O1. on the surface / overlook / overtake

#1. on the surface

: superficially; considering only the obvious details or outward appearance.

: The phrase "on the surface" means considering only the immediately obvious or visible characteristics of something, without delving into deeper details or underlying aspects. Often used to describe a preliminary or superficial understanding of a situation, which might differ from the more complex realities upon closer examination.

 

 

ex) It seems like a good idea on the surface but there are sure to be problems.

ex) Everything looked fine on the surface, but after we began we realized that the plan was fundamentally flawed.
ex) On the surface, the quarterly financial report looks promising, but a deeper analysis reveals several underlying challenges.

ex) On the surface, the candidate seems perfect for the role, but we should conduct a thorough background check to be sure.
ex) The project seems straightforward on the surface, but we anticipate potential complications due to regulatory requirements.

ex) While on the surface the investment opportunity looks lucrative, it's important to carefully evaluate the associated risks.

ex) The merger appears beneficial on the surface, yet further investigation is needed to assess its long-term impacts on our operations.

 

 

#2. overlook
: if you overlook a fact or problem, you do not notice it, or do not realize how important it is.

: generally means to fail to notice or consider something, often unintentionally.

ex) We overlook all sorts of warning signals about our own health.
ex) He seems to have overlooked one important fact.
ex) We did a lot of research on fashion trend and we didn't overlook small details about what consumers need. 
ex) As a manager, it's important not to overlook any feedback from your team, as it can provide valuable insights for improvement.
ex) When preparing customs documentation, it is crucial not to overlook any required information, as this can lead to delays in shipment clearance. 
ex) During the product inspection, the quality control team must ensure that no defects are overlooked.

ex) I believe the error that occurred was a result of an oversight. It appears that my supervisor overlooked a key detail in the process, which unfortunately led to the current issue.

 

 

 

#3. overtake 
: if sb or sth overtakes a competitor, they become more successful than them.
: to catch up with and then surpass someone or something that is ahead in a competition or similar situation. In a business context, when referring to competitors, "overtake" typically means to become more successful, larger, or more advanced than another company in the same industry. This can involve surpassing in terms of sales, market share, innovation, or other key performance metrics.

ex) Nuclear energy may overtake oil as the main fuel.
ex) Lung cancer has now overtaken breast cancer as a cause of death for women in the US.
ex) Take a look at this graph, this black line shows that companies who have gone online displayed increased profits in their first few years. Sales started slow, but soon kept up and even overtook the sales from their traditional platforms. 

ex) What is our current strategy to overtake our competitors in the industry, and how can we effectively implement it to gain a competitive advantage?

ex) Our US sales have now overtaken our sales in Europe.