All English words - page 394

Meanings of At first hand:

idiom

From the original source; directly

phrase

Directly or from personal experience.

Usage examples:

Scientists observed the process at first hand

Meanings of At first sight:

idiom

Immediately

phrase

On first seeing or meeting someone.

Usage examples:

It was love at first sight

Meanings of At heart:

idiom

In reality

phrase

In one's real nature, in contrast to how one may appear.

Usage examples:

He's a good lad at heart

Meanings of At large:

idiom

Having escaped, especially from confinement

phrase

(especially of a criminal or dangerous animal) at liberty; escaped or not yet captured.

Usage examples:

The fugitive was still at large

noun

An important editor in some companies that publish books, newspapers, magazines, etc.

Usage examples:

Joseph nocera is editor-at-large at fortune magazine and author of 'a piece of the action'.

Meanings of At odds:

phrase

In disagreement

Meanings of At sixes and sevens:

phrase

In a state of total confusion or disarray.

Usage examples:

Everything is at sixes and sevens here

idiom

In a confused, badly organized, or difficult situation

Usage examples:

We've been at sixes and sevens in the office this week.

Meanings of At someone's beck and call:

Ready to do something for someone any time you are asked

Usage examples:

She was confined to a wheelchair but had a private nurse at her beck and call.

phrase

Always having to be ready to obey someone's orders immediately.

Usage examples:

Enjoy having servants at your beck and call

Meanings of At the drop of a hat:

phrase

Without hesitation or good reason.

Usage examples:

He used to be very bashful, blushing at the drop of a hat

idiom

Easily, with little encouragement

Usage examples:

I hate to speak in public, but she’ll get up on stage at the drop of a hat.

Meanings of At the eleventh hour:

phrase

The latest possible moment.

Usage examples:

The decision to send eddie with the team was made at the eleventh hour

Meanings of At the expense of:

Making another person look silly

Usage examples:

Would you stop making jokes at my expense?

phrase

So as to cause harm to or neglect of.

Usage examples:

The pursuit of profit at the expense of the environment

idiom

In a way that embarrasses or harms someone

Usage examples:

They all had a good laugh at her expense., do we really want to speed the process up at the expense…

Meanings of At-a-distance:

phrase

From a place that is not near

Usage examples:

From a distance he looks a bit like johnny depp., we even saw some wolves from a distance., she cla…

Meanings of At-a-distance-from:

phrase

From a place that is not near

Usage examples:

From a distance he looks a bit like johnny depp., we even saw some wolves from a distance., she cla…

Meanings of At-a-glance:

phrase

Immediately

Usage examples:

He could tell at a glance that something was wrong., the rating system shows prospective buyers at …

Meanings of At-a-lick:

phrase

At a fast speed

Usage examples:

The trains go by at a hell of a lick., he ran up the hill at a fair lick., the economy is growing a…

Meanings of At-a-loss:

idiom

Below cost

phrase

Puzzled or uncertain what to think, say, or do.

Usage examples:

She became popular, and was at a loss to know why

Meanings of At-a-premium:

idiom

To be not common and therefore valuable

Usage examples:

Free time is at a premium for working parents.

Meanings of At-a-push:

idiom

If you can do something at a push, you can do it but it will be difficult

Usage examples:

At a push i could be there by eight o'clock.

Meanings of At-a-rate-of-knots:

idiom

If someone does something at a rate of knots, they do it very quickly

Usage examples:

She got through her work at a rate of knots.

Meanings of At-a-stroke:

idiom

If something is done at the stroke of a pen, it is done quickly and easily by someone

Usage examples:

Politicians know they cannot create a lawful society simply at the stroke of a pen.

Meanings of At-a-time:

idiom

During any one period

Usage examples:

I can only do one thing at a time.

Meanings of At-all:

adverb

(used to make negatives and questions stronger) in any way or of any type

Usage examples:

I haven’t been at all well recently., he’s had no food at all., i’m not at all worried about it.

Meanings of At-all-events:

noun

Anything that happens, esp. something important or unusual

Usage examples:

Sporting events, a charity/fundraising event, political/world events, she later gave me her version…

Meanings of At-all-times:

phrase

Continuously

Usage examples:

When you're at the airport, you should make sure you have your luggage with you at all times., the …

Meanings of At-an-angle:

idiom

Not straight

Usage examples:

The picture was hanging at an angle, so i straightened it.

Meanings of At-an-end:

noun

The last or farthest part of something or of a period of time, beyond which it does not exist

Usage examples:

She tied one end of the rope to a tree., the punctuation at the end of this sentence is a period., …