Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц Страница 8

[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./

[at one’s best]{prep. phr.} In best form; displaying one’s best qualities. •/Tim is at his best when he has had a long swim before a ballgame./ •/Jane rested before the important meeting because she wanted to be at her best./

[at one’s door] or [at one’s doorstep] {adv. phr.} 1. Very close; very near where you live or work. •/Johnny is very lucky because there’s a swimming pool right at his doorstep./ •/Mr. Green can get to work in only a few minutes because the subway is at his door./ 2. See: LAY AT ONE’S DOOR.

[at one’s ease] See: AT EASE(2).

[at one’s elbow]{adv. phr.} Close beside you; nearby. •/The President rode in an open car with his wife at his elbow./ •/Mary practiced for several years to become a champion swimmer and her mother was always at her elbow to help her./ Contrast: BREATHE DOWN ONE’S NECK.

[at one’s feet]{adv. phr.} Under your influence or power. •/She had a dozen men at her feet./ •/Her voice kept audiences at her feet for years./ Compare: THROW ONESELF AT SOMEONE’S FEET.

[at one’s fingertips]{adv. phr.} 1. Within easy reach; quickly touched; nearby. •/Seated in the cockpit, the pilot of a plane has many controls at his fingertips./ 2. Readily usable as knowledge or skill; familiar. •/He had several languages at his fingertips./ •/He had the whole design of the machine at his fingertips./

[at one’s heels]{adv. phr.} Close behind; as a constant follower or companion. •/The boy got tired of having his little brother at his heels all day./ •/John ran by the finish line with Ned at his heels./ •/Bad luck followed at his heels all his life./

[at one’s leisure] See: AT LEISURE(2).

[at one’s service]{adv. phr.} 1. Ready to serve or help you; prepared to obey your wish or command; subject to your orders. •/He placed himself completely at the President’s service./ •/"Now I am at your service," the dentist told the next patient./ 2. Available for your use; at your disposal. •/He put a car and chauffeur at the visitor’s service./

[at one stroke] See: AT A BLOW or AT ONE STROKE.

[at one’s wit’s 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. •/He had approached every friend and acquaintance for help in vain, and now he was at his wit’s end./ •/The designer was at his wit’s end: he had tried out wings of many different kinds but none would fly./ Compare: AT A LOSS, END OF ONE’S ROPE.

[at one’s word] See: TAKE AT ONE’S WORD.

[at one time]{adv. phr.} 1. In the same moment; together. •/Let’s start the dance again all at one time./ •/Mr. Reed’s 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. •/At one time people thought that Minnesota was not a good place to live./ •/At one time most school teachers were men, but today there are more women than men./