aside

aside from someone or something not includ-

ing someone or something. Aside from

a small bank account, I have no money at

all. Aside from Mary, I have no friends.

ask for something to do something that will

cause trouble. (Also literal.) Don’t talk

to me that way! You’re really asking for it.

Anyone who acts like that is just asking

for a good talking to.

ask for the moon to ask for too much; to

make great demands. When you’re try-

ing to get a job, it’s unwise to ask for the

moon. Please lend me the money. I’m

not asking for the moon!

ask someone out to ask a person for a date.

Mary hopes that John will ask her out.

T John doesn’t want to ask out his best

friend’s girl.

assault and battery a violent attack [upon

someone] followed by a beating. (A crim-

inal charge.) Max was charged with two

counts of assault and battery. Dave does

not go out at night because he does not

want to be a victim of assault and battery.

assault the ears [for sound or speech] to

be very loud or persistent. That loud

music assaults the ears! I can’t hear with

all that talk assaulting my ears.

assemble a case (against someone) Go to

build a case (against someone).

assume liability to accept the responsibil-

ity for paying a cost. Mr. Smith as-

sumed liability for his son’s student loans.

The store assumed liability for the in-

jured customer’s hospital bill.

at all without distinguishing; without qual-

ification. (See the examples for word or-

der variations.) It really wasn’t very cold

at all. It really wasn’t at all cold. Tom

will eat anything at all. Jane isn’t at all

hungry. Grandma was always ready to

go anywhere at all.

at all costs and at any cost regardless of

the difficulty or cost; no matter what.

I intend to have that car at all costs. I’ll

get there by six o’clock at all costs. Mary

was going to get that job at any cost.

at a loss (for words) unable to speak;

speechless; befuddled. I was so sur-

prised that I was at a loss for words. Tom

was terribly confused—really at a loss.

at an early date soon; some day soon.

The note said, “Please call me at an early

date.” You’re expected to return the form

to the office at an early date.

at any cost Go to at all costs.

at a set time at a particular time; at an as-

signed time. Each person has to show

up at a set time. Do I have to be there

at a set time, or can I come whenever I

want?

at a sitting at one time; during one period.

(Refers to an activity that takes place

while a person is seated.) The restau-

rant could feed only sixty people at a sit-

ting. I can read about 300 pages at a

sitting.

at a snail’s pace very slowly. When you

watch a clock, time seems to move at a

snail’s pace. You always eat at a snail’s

pace. I’m tired of waiting for you.

at a stretch continuously; without stop-

ping. We all had to do eight hours of

duty at a stretch. The baby doesn’t sleep

for more than three hours at a stretch.

at best and at most in the best view; in

the most positive judgment; as the best

one can say. I believe her to be totally

negligent. Her actions were careless at best.

At best we found their visit pleasantly

short. The dinner was not at all pleas-

ant. At best the food was not burned.

At most she was careless, but not criminal.

We found their visit pleasingly short at

most.

at close range very near; in close proxim-

ity. (Usually used in regard to shooting.)

The hunter fired at the deer at close

range. The powder burns tell us that the

gun was fired at close range.

at cross-purposes with opposing pur-

poses; with goals that interfere with each

other. We are arguing at cross-purposes.

We aren’t even discussing the same thing.

Bill and Tom are working at cross-

purposes. They’ll never get the job done

right.

at death’s door near death. (Euphemistic.)

I was so ill that I was at death’s door.

The family dog was at death’s door for

three days, and then it finally died.

at ease relaxed and comfortable.

feel at ease driving when there is a lot of

traffic. Mary is most at ease when she’s

near the sea.

at every turn everywhere; everywhere one

looks. There is a new problem at every

Life holds new adventures at

every turn.

at face value from outward appearance;

from what something first appears to be.

(From the value printed on the “face” of

a coin or bank note.) Don’t just accept

her offer at face value. Think of the impli-

cations. Joan tends to take people at face

value and so she is always getting hurt.

at first initially; at the beginning. He was

shy at first. Then he became more friendly.

At first we chose the red one. Later we

switched to the blue one.

at first glance and at first blush when

first examined; at an early stage.

first glance, the problem appeared quite

simple. Later we learned just how complex

it really was. He appeared quite healthy

at first glance. At first blush, she ap-

peared to be quite old.

(at) full blast using full power; as loudly as

possible. The neighbors had their tele-

visions on at full blast. The car radio

was on full blast. We couldn’t hear what

the driver was saying.

at full speed and at full tilt as fast as pos-

sible. The motor was running at full

speed.  John finished his running at

full speed.  Things are now operating

at full tilt.

at full tilt Go to at full speed.

at half-mast halfway up or down. (Pri-

marily referring to flags. Can be used for

things other than flags as a joke.) The

f lag was f lying at half-mast because the

general had died. Americans f ly f lags

at half-mast on Memorial Day. The lit-

tle boy ran out of the house with his pants

at half-mast.

at hazard risked; in danger; at risk. He

is not willing to have much of his money

at hazard in the stock market. Your en-

tire life is at hazard unless you wear a hel-

met when you ride your bicycle.

at home with someone or something comfort-

able with someone or something; com-

fortable doing something. (Also literal.

See also feel at home.) Tom is very

much at home with my parents. Sally

seems to be very much at home with her

car. Mary seems to be at home with her

job.

at large 1. free; uncaptured. (Usually said

of criminals running loose.) At noon

the day after the robbery, the thieves were

still at large.  There is a murderer at

large in the city. 2. in general; according

to a general sample. Truck drivers at

large don’t like the new law. Students

at large felt that the rule was too strict. 3.

representing the whole group rather than

its subsections. (Always refers to a special

kind of elective office.) He ran for rep-

resentative at large.  She represented

shareholders at large on the governing

board.

at last Go to at (long) last.

at least 1. no less than; no fewer than.

There were at least four people there that

I knew. I want to spend at least three

weeks in Mexico. 2. anyway; in spite of

difficulties. At least we had a good eve-

ning, even though the afternoon was rainy.

At least we came away with some of our

money left.

at leisure 1. resting; not working. What

do you usually do when you are at leisure?

During the summer when you are at

leisure, you ought to play golf. 2. and at

one’s leisure at one’s convenience.

Choose one or the other at your leisure.

Please drop by at your leisure.

at length 1. after some time; finally. At

length, the roses bloomed and the tomatoes

ripened.  And at length, the wizard

spoke. 2. and at some length for quite

a long time. He spoke on and on at some

length. He described the history of his

village at length.

at loose ends restless and unsettled; un-

employed. Just before school starts, all

the children are at loose ends. When

Tom is home on the weekends, he’s always

at loose ends. Jane has been at loose ends

ever since she lost her job.

at most Go to at best.

at night during the night. Most people

sleep at night. Mary studies at night.

at odds (with someone) in opposition to

someone; at loggerheads (with someone).

Mary is always at odds with her father

about how late she can stay out. John

and his father are always at odds too.

at once immediately; at this very moment.

John, come here at once! Bring me my

coffee at once! Shall I do it at once or

wait until morning?

at one fell swoop and in one fell swoop

in a single incident; as a single event.

(This phrase preserves the old word fell,

meaning “terrible” or “deadly.”) The

party guests ate up all the snacks at one fell

swoop. When the stock market crashed,

many large fortunes were wiped out in one

fell swoop.

at one’s best in the best of health; display-

ing the most civilized behavior. (Often in

the negative.) I’m not at my best when

I’m angry. He’s at his best after a good

nap.

at one’s leisure Go to at leisure.

at one’s wit’s end at the limits of one’s men-

tal resources. I’m at my wit’s end with

this problem. I cannot figure it out. Tom

could do no more. He was at his wit’s end.

at peace 1. peaceful; relaxed; happy. I

am always at peace when I sit in my rock-

ing chair.  When the warm breeze is

blowing, I am at peace. 2. dead. It was

a long illness, but she is at peace now. At

last, Uncle Tom is at peace.

at play [at this moment] involved in play-

ing. The children are at play, and I am

doing household chores. Whether I am

at work or at play, I try to be pleasant to

people.

at present now; at this point in time.

are not able to do any more at present.

We may be able to lend you money next

week, but not at present.

at random without sequence or order.

Sally picked four names at random from

the telephone book. The gunman walked

into the crowded restaurant and fired at

random. Jane will read almost anything.

She selects four novels at random at the

library each week and reads them all.



at sea on the sea; away on a voyage on the

ocean. (See also (all) at sea (about some-

thing).) The ship is at sea now, and you

can’t disembark. I spent many happy

days at sea on my cruise.

at sea (about something) Go to (all) at sea

(about something).

at sea level located at the bottom of the

sea. It is easier to breathe at sea level

than in the mountains.  Boats on the

ocean are at sea level, but those on rivers

are not.

at sixes and sevens disorderly; lost and

bewildered; at loose ends. Mrs. Smith

is at sixes and sevens since the death of her

husband. Bill is always at sixes and sev-

ens when he’s home by himself.

at some length Go to at length.

at someone’s beck and call ready to obey

someone. What makes you think I wait

around here at your beck and call? I live

here too, you know! It was a fine hotel.

There were dozens of maids and waiters at

our beck and call.

at someone’s doorstep and on someone’s

doorstep in someone’s care; as some-

one’s responsibility. Why do you always

have to lay your problems at my doorstep?

I shall put this issue on someone else’s

doorstep. I don’t want it on my doorstep.

at someone’s earliest convenience as soon

as it is easy or convenient for someone.

(This is also a polite way of saying im-

mediately.) Please stop by my office at

your earliest convenience. Bill, please

have the oil changed at your earliest

convenience.



at some time sharp exactly at a named time.

You must be here at noon sharp. The

plane is expected to arrive at seven forty-

five sharp.

at stake to be won or lost; at risk; hanging

in the balance. That’s a very risky in-

vestment. How much money is at stake?

I have everything at stake on this wager.

at that rate in that manner; at that speed.

(See also at this rate.) If things keep

progressing at that rate, we’ll be rich by

next year. At that rate we’ll never get the

money that is owed us.

at the appointed time at the announced

or assigned time. The cab pulled up in

the driveway at the appointed time. We

all met at the hotel at the appointed time.

at the bottom of the hour on the half

hour; the opposite of at the top of the

hour. (Typically heard on television or the

radio. Refers to the minute hand on a

clock.) Hear the news on WNAG at the

bottom of the hour. We will have an in-

terview with Harry Smith at the bottom of

the hour.

at the bottom of the ladder at the low-

est level of pay and status. Most peo-

ple start work at the bottom of the ladder.

When Ann got fired, she had to start all

over again at the bottom of the ladder.

at the break of dawn Go to at the crack

of dawn.

at the crack of dawn and at the break

of dawn at the time of the earliest light

of the day. Jane was always up at the

crack of dawn. The birds start singing

at the break of dawn.

at the drop of a hat immediately and

without urging. John was always ready

to go fishing at the drop of a hat. If you

need help, just call on me. I can come at

the drop of a hat.

at the end of nowhere at a remote place;

at some distance from civilization.

They live way out in the country at the end

of nowhere. The police will never find

us here at the end of nowhere.

at the end of one’s rope and at the end

of one’s tether at the limits of one’s en-

durance. I’m at the end of my rope! I

just can’t go on this way! These kids are

driving me out of my mind. I’m at the end

of my tether.

at the end of one’s tether Go to at the end

of one’s rope.

at the end of the day when everything

else has been taken into consideration.

(Also literal.) At the end of the day you

will have to decide where you want to live.

The committee interviewed many ap-

plicants for the post, but at the end of the

day made no appointment.

at the expense of someone or something to

the detriment of someone or something;

to the harm of someone or something.

He had a good laugh at the expense of his

brother. He took a job in a better place

at the expense of a larger income.

at the forefront (of something) and in the

forefront (of something) the most impor-

tant place; the place of greatest activity.

I interviewed Max Brown, the director

who is in the forefront of the movie in-

dustry. The university I go to is at the

forefront of computer technology.

at the height of something at the most in-

tense or forceful aspect of something.

At the height of his career, Tom was known

around the world. At the height of the

party, there were 50 people present.

at the helm (of something) in the position

of being in control of something. (Also

literal for ships and boats.) The presi-

dent is at the helm of the company.

Things will go well with Anne at the helm.

at the last gasp at the very last; at the last

chance; at the last minute. (Refers to

someone’s last breath before death.)

She finally showed up at the last gasp,

bringing the papers that were needed.

We got there at the last gasp, just before our

names were called.

at the outset at the beginning. (See also

from the outset.) It seemed like a very

simple problem at the outset. At the out-

set, they were very happy. Then they had

money problems.

at the point of doing something Go to on the

point of doing something.

at the present time and at this point (in

time) now; at present. (Used often as a

wordy replacement for now.) We don’t

know the location of the stolen car at the

present time. The tomatoes are doing

nicely at the present time. At this point

in time, we feel very sad about his death.

Yes, it’s sad, but there is nothing we can

do at this point.

at the rear of something located at the back

part of something. I keep my tools at

the rear of my garage. There’s a creek

at the rear of my property.

at the same time nevertheless; however.

(Also literal.) Bill was able to make the

car payment. At the same time, he was

very angry about the bill. We agree to

your demands. At the same time, we object

strongly to your methods.

at the top of one’s lungs Go to at the top

of one’s voice.



at the zenith of something at the highest

point of something; at the pinnacle of

something. At the zenith of his career,

the teacher died suddenly. The scientist

was at the zenith of her career when she

made her discovery.

at this juncture at this point in time; at

this pause. There is little more that I can

say at this juncture. We can, if you wish,

at this juncture, request a change in venue.

at this point (in time) Go to at the pres-

ent time.

at this rate at this speed. (Compare this

with at any rate and at that rate.)

Hurry up! We’ll never get there at this rate.

At this rate, all the food will be gone be-

fore we get there.

at this stage Go to at this stage of the

game.

at this stage of the game and at this

stage at the current point in some event;

currently. (The first phrase is informal.)

We’ll have to wait and see. There isn’t

much we can do at this stage of the game.

At this stage, we are better off not call-

ing the doctor.









at will whenever one wants; freely. (Com-

pare this with at liberty.) You’re free to

come and go at will. The soldiers were

told to fire their guns at will. You can

eat anything you want at will.

at work 1. working (at something); busy

(with something). Tom is at work on

his project. He’ll be finished in a minute.

Don’t disturb me when I’m busy at

work. 2. at one’s place of work. I’m

sorry to call you at work, but this is im-

portant.  She’s at work now. She’ll be

home at supper time.

at worst Go to at (the) worst.