[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./