Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом - 8000 единиц

[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. /

[at pains] {adj. phr.} Making a special effort. •/ At pains to make a good impression, she was prompt for her appointment. /

[at present] {adv. phr.} At this time; now. •/ It took a long time to get started, but at present the road is half finished. / •/ At present the house is empty, but next week a family will move in. /

[at random] {adv. phr.} With no order, plan, or purpose; in a mixed-up, or thoughtless way. •/ He opened the letters at random. / •/ His clothes were scattered about the room at random. /

[at sea(1)] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. On an ocean voyage; on a journey by ship. •/ They had first met at sea. / 2. Out on the ocean; away from land. •/ By the second day the ship was well out at sea. / •/ Charles had visited a ship in dock, but he had never been on a ship at sea. /