Adam Makkai - Словарь американских идиом - 8000 единиц

[at sea(2)] {adj. phr.} Not knowing what to do; bewildered; confused; lost. •/ The job was new to him, and for a few days he was at sea. / •/ When his friends talked about chemistry, Don was at sea, because he did not study chemistry. / Compare: AT A LOSS.

[at sight]or [on sight] {adv. phr.} 1. The first time the person or thing is seen; as soon as the person or thing is seen. •/ First graders learn to read many words on sight. / •/ Mary had seen many pictures of Grandfather, so she knew him on sight. / Compare: AT ONCE(1). 2. On demand, on asking the first time. •/ The money order was payable at sight. /

[at sixes and sevens] {adj. phr.} Not in order; in confusion; in a mess. •/ He apologized because his wife was away and the house was at sixes and sevens. / •/ Our teacher had just moved to a new classroom, and she was still at sixes and sevens. / •/ After the captain of the team broke his leg, the other players were at sixes and sevens. /

[at --- stage of the game] {adv. phr.} At (some) time during an activity; at (some) point. •/ At that stage of the game, our team was doing so poorly that we were ready to give up. / •/ It’s hard to know what will happen at this stage of the game. / •/ At what stage of the game did the man leave? /

[at stake] {adj. phr.} Depending, like a bet, on the outcome of something uncertain; in a position to be lost or gained. •/ The team played hard because the championship of the state was at stake. / •/ The farmers were more anxious for rain than the people in the city because they had more at stake. / Compare: HANG IN THE BALANCE.

[at straws]See: GRASP AT STRAWS.

[at swords' points] {adj. phr.} Ready to start fighting; very much opposed to each; other hostile; quarreling. •/ The dog’s barking kept the Browns at swords' points with their neighbors for months. / •/ The mayor and the reporter were always at swords' points. /

[at table]See: AT THE TABLE; WAIT AT TABLE.

[at that] {adv. phr.} , {informal} 1. As it is; at that point; without more talk or waiting. •/ Ted was not quite satisfied with his haircut but let it go at that. / 2. In addition; also. •/ Bill’s seat mate on the plane was a girl and a pretty one at that. / 3. After all; in spite of all; anyway. •/ The book was hard to understand, but at that Jack enjoyed it. / Syn.: ALL THE SAME.

[at the best]See: AT BEST.

[at the bit]See: CHAMP AT THE BIT.

[at the drop of a hat] {adv. phr.} , {informal} 1. Without waiting; immediately; promptly. •/ If you need a babysitter quickly, call Mary, because she can come at the drop of a hat. / Compare: ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT. 2. Whenever you have a chance; with very little cause or urging. •/ At the drop of a hat, he would tell the story of the canal he wanted to build. / •/ He was quarrelsome and ready to fight at the drop of a hat. /

[at the eleventh hour] {prep. phr.} At the last possible time. •/ Aunt Mathilda got married at the eleventh hour; after all, she was already 49 years old. /

[at the end of one’s rope]See: END OF ONE’S ROPE.

[at the kill]See: IN AT THE KILL.

[at the least]See: AT LEAST.

[at the mercy of]or [at one’s mercy] {adj. phr.} In the power of; subject to the will and wishes of; without defense against. •/ The champion had the other boxer at his mercy. / •/ The picnic was at the mercy of the weather. / •/ The small grocer was at the mercy of people he owed money to. /

[at the most]See: AT MOST.

[at the outset] {adv. phr.} At the start; at the beginning. •/ "You’ll live in the cheaper barracks at the outset; later you can move into the better cabins," the camp director said to the new boys. /

[at the outside] {adv. phr.} Maximally; at the utmost. •/ This old house can cost no more than $40,000 at the outside. /

[at the point of] {prep.} Very near to; almost at or in. •/ When Mary broke her favorite bracelet, she was at the point of tears. / •/ The boy hurt in the accident lay at the point of death for a week, then he got well. / Compare: ABOUT TO(1), ON THE POINT OF.

[at the ready] {adj. phr.} Ready for use. •/ The sailor stood at the bow, harpoon at the ready, as the boat neared the whale. /

[at the same time] {adv. phr.} 1. In the same moment; together. •/ The two runners reached the finish line at the same time. / Syn.: AT ONCE, AT ONE TIME. 2. In spite of that fact; even though; however; but; nevertheless. •/ John did pass the test; at the same time, he didn’t know the subject very well. /

[at the seams]See: BURST AT THE SEAMS.

[at the table]or [at table] {adv. phr.} At a meal; at the dinner table. •/ The telephone call came while they were all at table. /

[at the tip of one’s tongue]or [on the tip of one’s tongue] {adv. phr.} {informal} 1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said. •/ It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang. / •/ John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he remembered his manners just in time. / 2. Almost remembered; at the point where one can almost say it but cannot because it is forgotten. •/ I have his name on the tip of my tongue. /

[at the top of one’s voice]or [at the top of one’s lungs] {adv. phr.} As loud as you can; with the greatest possible sound; very loudly. •/ He was singing at the top of his voice. / •/ He shouted at the top of his lungs. /

[at this rate]or [at that rate] {adv. phr.} At a speed like this or that; with progress like this or that. •/ John’s father said that if John kept going at that rate he would never finish cutting the grass. / •/ So Johnny has a whole dollar! At this rate he’ll be a millionaire. / •/ "Three 100’s in the last four tests! At this rate you’ll soon be teaching the subject," Tom said to Mary. /

[at times] {adv. phr.} Not often; not regularly; not every day; not every week; occasionally; sometimes. •/ At times Tom’s mother lets him hold the baby. / •/ You can certainly be exasperating, at times! / •/ We have pie for dinner at times. / Syn.: FROM TIME TO TIME, NOW AND THEN, ONCE IN A WHILE.

[at will] {adv. phr.} As you like; as you please or choose freely. •/ Little Bobby is allowed to wander at will in the neighborhood. / •/ With an air conditioner you can enjoy comfortable temperatures at will. /

[at wits end]See: AT ONE’S WIT’S END.

[at work] {adj. phr.} Busy at a job; doing work. •/ The teacher was soon hard at work correcting that day’s test. / •/ Jim is at work on his car. /

[at worst]or [at the worst] {adv. phr.} 1. Under the worst conditions; as the worst possibility. •/ When Don was caught cheating in the examination he thought that at worst he would get a scolding. / Compare: AT MOST. Contrast AT BEST. 2. In the least favorable view, to say the worst about a thing. •/ The treasurer had certainly not stolen any of the club’s money; at worst, he had forgotten to write down some of the things he had spent money for. /