Π§ΠΈΡΠ°ΡΡ ΠΎΠ½Π»Π°ΠΉΠ½ Β«Π‘Π»ΠΎΠ²Π°ΡΡ Π°ΠΌΠ΅ΡΠΈΠΊΠ°Π½ΡΠΊΠΈΡ ΠΈΠ΄ΠΈΠΎΠΌ: 8000 Π΅Π΄ΠΈΠ½ΠΈΡΒ». Π‘ΡΡΠ°Π½ΠΈΡΠ° 8
ΠΠ²ΡΠΎΡ Adam Makkai
[at each otherβs throats]{prep. phr.} Always arguing and quarreling. β’/Joan and Harry have been at each otherβs throats so long that they have forgotten how much they used to love one another./
[at ease] or [at oneβs ease] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. In comfort; without pain or bother. β’/You canβt feel at ease with a toothache./ 2. or [at oneβs ease] Comfortable in oneβs mind; relaxed, not troubled.βββOften used in the phrase "put at ease" or "put at oneβs ease." β’/We put Mary at her ease during the thunderstorm by reading her stories./ Compare: AT HOME(2). Contrast: ILL AT EASE, ON EDGE. 3. Standing with your right foot in place and without talking in military ranks. β’/The sergeant gave his men the command "At ease!"/ Compare: PARADE REST.
[at every turn]{adv. phr.} Every time; all the time; continually without exception. β’/Because of his drinking, the man was refused a job at every turn./
[at face value]{prep. phr.} What one can actually hear, read, or see; literally. β’/John is so honest that you can take his words at face value./ β’/This storeβs advertisements are honest; take them at face value./
[at fault]{adj. phr.} Responsible for an error or failure; to blame. β’/The driver who didnβt stop at the red light was at fault in the accident./ β’/When the engine would not start, the mechanic looked at all the parts to find what was at fault./ Syn.: IN THE WRONG.
[at first]{adv. phr.} In the beginning; at the start. β’/The driver didnβt see the danger at first./ β’/At first the job looked good to Bob, but later it became tiresome./ β’/There was a little trouble at first, but things soon were quiet./
[at first blush]{adv. phr.} When first seen; without careful study. β’/At first blush the offer looked good, but when we studied it, we found things we could not accept./
[at first glance] or [at first sight] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} After a first quick look. β’/At first sight, his guess was that the whole trouble between the two men resulted from personalities that did not agree./ β’/Tom met Mary at a party, and it was love at first sight./
[at great length]{prep. phr.} 1. In great detail. β’/Jim told us the story of his life at great length./ 2. For a long time. β’/The boring speaker rambled on at great length./
[at half mast]{prep. phr.} Halfway up or down; referring primarily to flagposts, but may be used jokingly. β’/When a president of the United States dies, all flags are flown at half mast./
[at hand] also [at close hand] or [near at hand] {adv. phr.} 1. Easy to reach; nearby. β’/When he writes, he always keeps a dictionary at hand./ 2. {formal} Coming soon; almost here. β’/Examinations are past and Commencement Day is at hand./
[at heart]{adv. phr.} 1. In spite of appearances; at bottom; in reality. β’/His manners are rough but he is a kind man at heart./ 2. As a serious interest or concern; as an important aim or goal. β’/He has the welfare of the poor at heart./
[at home]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In the place where you live or come from. * β’/I went to his house, but he was not at home./ β’/Americans abroad are protected by the government like Americans at home./ 2. Knowing what to do or say; familiar; comfortable. β’/Charles and John enjoy working together because they feel at home with each other./ β’/The politician was at home among poor farmers and among rich factory owners./ β’/Make the new student feel at home in your school./ β’/Would you be at home driving a truck?/ β’/Jim always lived by a lake, and he is at home in the water./ β’/Tom has read many books about missiles and is at home in that subject./ Syn.: AT EASE(2). Compare: IN ONEβS ELEMENT, MAKE ONESELF AT HOME. Contrast: AT A LOSS.
[at issue]{adj. phr.} 1. In dispute; to be settled by debate, by vote, by battle, or by some other contest. β’/His good name was at issue in the trial./ β’/The independence of the United States from England was at issue in the Revolutionary War./ Compare: IN QUESTION. 2. Not in agreement; in conflict; opposing. β’/His work as a doctor was at issue with other doctors' practice./ Syn.: AT ODDS.
[at it]{adj. phr.} Busily doing something; active. β’/His rule for success was to keep always at it./ β’/The couple who owned the little cleaning shop were at it early and late./ β’/Mr. Curtis heard a loud crash in the next apartmentβββthe neighbors were at it again./
[at large]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not kept within walls, fences, or boundaries; free. β’/The killer remained at large for weeks./ Compare: AT LIBERTY. β’/Cattle and sheep roamed at large on the big ranch./ 2. In a broad, general way; at length; fully. β’/The superintendent talked at large for an hour about his hopes for a new school building./ 3. As a group rather than as individuals; as a whole; taken together. β’/The junior class at large was not interested in a senior yearbook./ 4. As a representative of a whole political unit or area rather than one of its parts; from a city rather than one of its wards, or a state rather than one of its districts. β’/He was elected congressman at large./ β’/Aldermen are voted for at large./
[at last] also [at long last] {adv. phr.} After a long time; finally. β’/The war had been long and hard, but now there was peace at last./ β’/The boy saved his money until at last he had enough for a bicycle./
[at least]{adv. phr.} 1. or [at the least] At the smallest guess; no fewer than; no less than. β’/You should brush your teeth at least twice a day./ β’/At least three students are failing in mathematics./ β’/Mr. Johnson must weigh 200 pounds at least./ Compare: ALL OF. 2. Whatever else you may say; anyhow; anyway. β’/It was a clumsy move, but at least it saved her from getting hit./ β’/She broke her arm, but at least it wasnβt the arm she writes with./ β’/The Mortons had fun at their picnic yesterdayβββat least the children didβββthey played while their parents cooked the food./ β’/Heβs not comingβββat least thatβs what he said./ Compare: AT ANY RATE.
[at leisure]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Not at work; not busy; with free time; at rest. β’/Come and visit us some evening when youβre at leisure./ 2. or [at oneβs leisure] When and how you wish at your convenience; without hurry. β’/John made the model plane at his leisure./ β’/You may read the book at your leisure./
[at length]{adv. phr.} 1. In detail; fully. β’/You must study the subject at length to understand it./ β’/The teacher explained the new lesson at length to the students./ 2. In the end; at last; finally. β’/The movie became more and more exciting, until at length people were sitting on the edge of their chairs./
[at liberty]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} Free to go somewhere or do something; not shut in or stopped. β’/The police promised to set the man at liberty if he told the names of the other robbers./ β’/I am sorry, but I am not at liberty to come to your party./ Compare: AT LARGE(1).
[at loggerheads]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} In a quarrel; in a fight; opposing each other. β’/The two senators had long been at loggerheads on foreign aid./ β’/Because of their barking dog, the Morrises lived at loggerheads with their neighbors./ Compare: AT ODDS.
[at long last] See: AT LAST.
[at loose ends]{adj. phr.} Without a regular job or settled habits; uncertain what to do next; having nothing to do for a while; undecided; unsettled; restless. β’/Feeling at loose ends, I went for a long walk./ β’/He had finished college but hadnβt found a job yet, so he was at loose ends./
[at most] or [at the most] {adv. phr.} By the largest or most generous guess; at the upper limit; by the maximum account; not more than; at best; at worst. β’/It was a minor offense at most./ β’/He had been gone 15 minutes at the most./ β’/Their new house lot is a quarter acre at most./
[at odds]{adj. phr.} In conflict or disagreement; opposed. β’/The boy and girl were married a week after they met and soon found themselves at odds about religion./ Compare: AT LOGGERHEADS.
[at once]{adv. phr.} 1. Without delay; right now or right then; immediately. β’/Put a burning match next to a piece of paper and it will begin burning at once./ β’/Mother called the children to lunch, and Paul came at once, but Brenda stayed in the sand pile a little longer./ Syn.: RIGHT AWAY or RIGHT OFF. Compare: ALL AT ONCE(2).
[at one]{adj. phr.} 1. In union or harmony; in agreement or sympathy. Not usually used informally. β’/He felt at one with all the poets who have sung of love./ 2. Of the same opinion, in agreement. β’/Husband and wife were at one on everything but money./ Contrast: AT ODDS.
[at one fell swoop] See: IN ONE FELL SWOOP.
[at oneβs beck and call] or [at the beck and call of] {adj. phr.} Ready and willing to do whatever someone asks; ready to serve at a momentβs notice. β’/A good parent isnβt necessarily always at the childβs beck and call./
[at oneβs best]{prep. phr.} In best form; displaying oneβs best qualities. β’/Tim is at his best when he has had a long swim before a ballgame./ β’/Jane rested before the important meeting because she wanted to be at her best./
[at oneβs door] or [at oneβs doorstep] {adv. phr.} 1. Very close; very near where you live or work. β’/Johnny is very lucky because thereβs a swimming pool right at his doorstep./ β’/Mr. Green can get to work in only a few minutes because the subway is at his door./ 2. See: LAY AT ONEβS DOOR.
[at oneβs ease] See: AT EASE(2).
[at oneβs elbow]{adv. phr.} Close beside you; nearby. β’/The President rode in an open car with his wife at his elbow./ β’/Mary practiced for several years to become a champion swimmer and her mother was always at her elbow to help her./ Contrast: BREATHE DOWN ONEβS NECK.
[at oneβs feet]{adv. phr.} Under your influence or power. β’/She had a dozen men at her feet./ β’/Her voice kept audiences at her feet for years./ Compare: THROW ONESELF AT SOMEONEβS FEET.
[at oneβs fingertips]{adv. phr.} 1. Within easy reach; quickly touched; nearby. β’/Seated in the cockpit, the pilot of a plane has many controls at his fingertips./ 2. Readily usable as knowledge or skill; familiar. β’/He had several languages at his fingertips./ β’/He had the whole design of the machine at his fingertips./
[at oneβs heels]{adv. phr.} Close behind; as a constant follower or companion. β’/The boy got tired of having his little brother at his heels all day./ β’/John ran by the finish line with Ned at his heels./ β’/Bad luck followed at his heels all his life./
[at oneβs leisure] See: AT LEISURE(2).
[at oneβs service]{adv. phr.} 1. Ready to serve or help you; prepared to obey your wish or command; subject to your orders. β’/He placed himself completely at the Presidentβs service./ β’/"Now I am at your service," the dentist told the next patient./ 2. Available for your use; at your disposal. β’/He put a car and chauffeur at the visitorβs service./
[at one stroke] See: AT A BLOW or AT ONE STROKE.
[at oneβs witβs end] or [at wits end] {adj. phr.} Having no ideas as to how to meet a difficulty or solve a problem; feeling puzzled after having used up all of your ideas or resources; not knowing what to do; puzzled. β’/He had approached every friend and acquaintance for help in vain, and now he was at his witβs end./ β’/The designer was at his witβs end: he had tried out wings of many different kinds but none would fly./ Compare: AT A LOSS, END OF ONEβS ROPE.
[at oneβs word] See: TAKE AT ONEβS WORD.
[at one time]{adv. phr.} 1. In the same moment; together. β’/Letβs start the dance again all at one time./ β’/Mr. Reedβs bills came all at one time and he could not pay them./ Syn.: AT THE SAME TIME(1). 2. At a certain time in the past; years ago. β’/At one time people thought that Minnesota was not a good place to live./ β’/At one time most school teachers were men, but today there are more women than men./