Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
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[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./