Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[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 the country are at the insured person’s call, wherever he may travel. / 2. At the word of command; at an order or signal. •/ The dog was trained to come at call. /

[at close range] {adv. phr.} Close by; in proximity. •/ The police officer fired at the fleeing murder suspect at close range. /

[at cross purposes] {adv. phr.} With opposing meanings or aims; with opposing 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 wanted him 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 have forgotten how much they used to love one another. /

[at ease]or [at one’s ease] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. In comfort; without pain or bother. •/ You can’t feel at ease with a toothache. / 2. or [at one’s ease]Comfortable in one’s mind; relaxed, not troubled. — 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 your right foot in place and without talking in military ranks. •/ 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. •/ 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. •/ 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 the accident. / •/ 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. •/ The driver didn’t see the danger at first. / •/ At first the job looked good to Bob, but later it became tiresome. / •/ There was a little trouble at first, but things 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 found things 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 whole trouble 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 the story of his life at great length. / 2. For a long time. •/ 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. •/ 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. •/ When he writes, he always keeps a dictionary at hand. / 2. {formal} Coming soon; almost here. •/ Examinations are past and Commencement Day is at hand. /

[at heart] {adv. phr.} 1. In spite of appearances; at bottom; in reality. •/ 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. •/ 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. * •/ I went to his house, but he was not at home. / •/ Americans abroad are protected by the government like Americans at home. / 2. Knowing what to do or say; familiar; comfortable. •/ Charles and John enjoy working together because they feel at home with each other. / •/ The politician was at home among poor farmers and among rich factory owners. / •/ Make the new student feel at home in your school. / •/ Would you be at home driving a truck? / •/ 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: AT A 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 the trial. / •/ 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. •/ 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 for success was to keep always at it. / •/ The couple who owned the little cleaning shop were at it early and late. / •/ Mr. Curtis heard a loud crash in 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: AT LIBERTY. •/ Cattle and sheep roamed at large on the big ranch. / 2. In a broad, general way; at length; fully. •/ 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. •/ 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. •/ He was elected 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 at last. / •/ 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. •/ You should brush your teeth at least twice a day. / •/ At least three students are failing in mathematics. / •/ Mr. Johnson must weigh 200 pounds at least. / Compare: ALL OF. 2. Whatever else you may say; anyhow; anyway. •/ It was a clumsy move, but at least it saved her from getting hit. / •/ She broke her arm, but at least it wasn’t the arm she writes with. / •/ The Mortons had fun at their picnic yesterday — at least 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; with free time; at rest. •/ Come and visit us some evening when you’re at leisure. / 2. or [at one’s leisure]When and how you wish at your convenience; without hurry. •/ John made the model plane at his leisure. / •/ You may read the book at your leisure. /

[at length] {adv. phr.} 1. In detail; fully. •/ You must study the subject at length to understand it. / •/ The teacher explained the new lesson at length to the students. / 2. In the end; at last; finally. •/ 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. •/ The police promised to set the man at liberty if he told the names of the other robbers. / •/ 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. •/ The two senators had long been at loggerheads on foreign aid. / •/ 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. •/ Feeling at loose ends, I went for a long walk. / •/ He had finished college but hadn’t 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. •/ It was a minor offense at most. / •/ He had been gone 15 minutes at the most. / •/ Their new house lot is a quarter acre at most. /

[at odds] {adj. phr.} In conflict or disagreement; opposed. •/ 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. •/ Put a burning match next to a piece of paper and it will begin burning at once. / •/ 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. •/ He felt at one with all the poets who have sung of love. / 2. Of the same opinion, in agreement. •/ Husband and wife were at one on everything but money. / Contrast: AT ODDS.

[at one fell swoop]See: IN ONE FELL SWOOP.

[at one’s 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 moment’s notice. •/ A good parent isn’t necessarily always at the child’s beck and call. /