When Donmissed the last bus, he was at a loss to know what to do./
[at anchor]{adj. phr.} Held by an anchor from floating away; anchored.•/The ship rode at anchor in the harbor./
[at any rate]{adv. phr.} In any case; anyhow. •/It isn’t much of acar, but at any rate it was not expensive./ Compare: AT LEAST(2), IN ANYCASE.
[at a premium]{adv. phr.} At a high price due to specialcircumstances. •/When his father died, Fred flew to Europe at a premiumbecause he had no chance to buy a less expensive ticket./
[at arm’s length] See: KEEP AT A DISTANCE or KEEP AT ARM’S LENGTH.
[at a set time]{prep. phr.} At a particular, pre-specified time.•/Do we have to eat in this hotel at a set time, or may we come down wheneverwe want?/
[at a snail’s pace] See: SNAIL’S PACE.
[at a straw] See: GRASP AT STRAWS.
[at a stroke] See: AT A BLOW or AT A STROKE.
[at a time]{adv. phr.} At once; at one time; in one group or unit;together. •/He checked them off one at a time as they came in./ •/He ranup the steps two at a time./ See: EVERY OTHER. •/They showed up for classthree and four at a time./
[at bay]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In a place where you can no longerrun away; unable to go back farther; forced to stand and fight, or face anenemy; cornered. •/The dog ran the rat into a corner, and there the ratturned at bay./ •/The police chased the thief to a roof, where they heldhim at bay until more policemen came to help./ Compare: BRING TO BAY.
[at best] or [at the best]{adv. phr.} 1. Under the bestconditions; as the best possibility. •/A coal miner’s job is dirty anddangerous at best./ •/We can’t get to New York before ten o’clock atbest./ Compare: AT MOST. Contrast: AT WORST. 2. In the most favorable way oflooking at something; even saying the best about the thing. * The /treasurerhad at best been careless with the club’s money, but most people thought he hadbeen dishonest./
[at both ends] See: BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS.
[at call]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Ready or nearby for use, help,or service; on request. •/Thousands of auto insurance agents all over thecountry are at the insured person’s call, wherever he may travel./ 2. At theword of command; at an order or signal. •/The dog was trained to come atcall./
[at close range]{adv. phr.} Close by; in proximity. •/The policeofficer fired at the fleeing murder suspect at close range./
[at cross purposes]{adv. phr.} With opposing meanings or aims; withopposing effect or result; with aims which hinder or get in each other’s way.•/Tom’s parents acted at cross purposes in advising him; his father wantedhim to become a doctor; but his mother wanted him to become a minister./
[at death’s door]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Very near death; dying.•/He seemed to be at death’s door from his illness./
[at each other’s throats]{prep. phr.} Always arguing and quarreling.•/Joan and Harry have been at each other’s throats so long that they haveforgotten how much they used to love one another./
[at ease] or [at one’s ease]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Incomfort; without pain or bother. •/You can’t feel at ease with atoothache./ 2. or [at one’s ease] Comfortable in one’s mind; relaxed, nottroubled. — Often used in the phrase "put at ease" or "put at one’s ease."•/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 yourright foot in place and without talking in military ranks. •/The sergeantgave his men the command "At ease!"/ Compare: PARADE REST.
[at every turn]{adv. phr.} Every time; all the time; continuallywithout exception. •/Because of his drinking, the man was refused a job atevery turn./
[at face value]{prep. phr.} What one can actually hear, read, or see;literally. •/John is so honest that you can take his words at face value./•/This store’s advertisements are honest; take them at face value./
[at fault]{adj. phr.} Responsible for an error or failure; to blame.•/The driver who didn’t stop at the red light was at fault in theaccident./ •/When the engine would not start, the mechanic looked at allthe parts to find what was at fault./ Syn.: IN THE WRONG.
[at first]{adv. phr.} In the beginning; at the start. •/The driverdidn’t see the danger at first./ •/At first the job looked good to Bob, butlater it became tiresome./ •/There was a little trouble at first, butthings soon were quiet./
[at first blush]{adv. phr.} When first seen; without careful study.•/At first blush the offer looked good, but when we studied it, we foundthings we could not accept./
[at first glance] or [at first sight]{adv.} or {adj. phr.}After a first quick look. •/At first sight, his guess was that the wholetrouble between the two men resulted from personalities that did not agree./•/Tom met Mary at a party, and it was love at first sight./
[at great length]{prep. phr.} 1. In great detail. •/Jim told us thestory of his life at great length./ 2. For a long time. •/The boringspeaker rambled on at great length./
[at half mast]{prep. phr.} Halfway up or down; referring primarily toflagposts, but may be used jokingly. •/When a president of the United Statesdies, all flags are flown at half mast./
[at hand] also [at close hand] or [near at hand]{adv. phr.} 1.Easy to reach; nearby. •/When he writes, he always keeps a dictionary athand./ 2. {formal} Coming soon; almost here. •/Examinations are pastand Commencement Day is at hand./
[at heart]{adv. phr.} 1. In spite of appearances; at bottom; inreality. •/His manners are rough but he is a kind man at heart./ 2. As aserious interest or concern; as an important aim or goal. •/He has thewelfare of the poor at heart./
[at home]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In the place where you live orcome from. * •/I went to his house, but he was not at home./ •/Americansabroad are protected by the government like Americans at home./ 2. Knowingwhat to do or say; familiar; comfortable. •/Charles and John enjoy workingtogether because they feel at home with each other./ •/The politician wasat home among poor farmers and among rich factory owners./ •/Make the newstudent feel at home in your school./ •/Would you be at home driving atruck?/ •/Jim always lived by a lake, and he is at home in the water./•/Tom has read many books about missiles and is at home in that subject./Syn.: AT EASE(2). Compare: IN ONE’S ELEMENT, MAKE ONESELF AT HOME. Contrast: ATA LOSS.
[at issue]{adj. phr.} 1. In dispute; to be settled by debate, by vote,by battle, or by some other contest. •/His good name was at issue in thetrial./ •/The independence of the United States from England was at issuein the Revolutionary War./ Compare: IN QUESTION. 2. Not in agreement; inconflict; opposing. •/His work as a doctor was at issue with other doctors'practice./ Syn.: AT ODDS.
[at it]{adj. phr.} Busily doing something; active. •/His rule forsuccess was to keep always at it./ •/The couple who owned the littlecleaning shop were at it early and late./ •/Mr. Curtis heard a loud crashin the next apartment — the neighbors were at it again./
[at large]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not kept within walls, fences,or boundaries; free. •/The killer remained at large for weeks./ Compare: ATLIBERTY. •/Cattle and sheep roamed at large on the big ranch./ 2. In abroad, general way; at length; fully. •/The superintendent talked at largefor an hour about his hopes for a new school building./ 3. As a group ratherthan as individuals; as a whole; taken together. •/The junior class at largewas not interested in a senior yearbook./ 4. As a representative of a wholepolitical unit or area rather than one of its parts; from a city rather thanone of its wards, or a state rather than one of its districts. •/He waselected congressman at large./ •/Aldermen are voted for at large./
[at last] also [at long last]{adv. phr.} After a long time;finally. •/The war had been long and hard, but now there was peace atlast./ •/The boy saved his money until at last he had enough for abicycle./
[at least]{adv. phr.} 1. or [at the least] At the smallest guess;no fewer than; no less than. •/You should brush your teeth at least twice aday./ •/At least three students are failing in mathematics./ •/Mr.Johnson must weigh 200 pounds at least./ Compare: ALL OF. 2. Whatever elseyou may say; anyhow; anyway. •/It was a clumsy move, but at least it savedher from getting hit./ •/She broke her arm, but at least it wasn’t the armshe writes with./ •/The Mortons had fun at their picnic yesterday — atleast the children did — they played while their parents cooked the food./•/He’s not coming — at least that’s what he said./ Compare: AT ANY RATE.
[at leisure]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Not at work; not busy; withfree time; at rest. •/Come and visit us some evening when you’re atleisure./ 2. or [at one’s leisure]