Page 43 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

at some time sharp

your service.” The desk clłrk said, pers in at the elevłnth hour. We don’t
“Good morning, madam. We are always at worry about death until the elłvłnth hour.
your service.”
atŁtheŁendŁofŁnowhere að a remote place;
atŁ some timł shyrp exactly at a named time. at some disðance fràmŁ civilization.Ł
You must be here Øt noon oharp. The They lve way out in the country at the end
plane is expected to arrive at sevłn forty- of nowðere. The police will never find
five sharp. us here at the end of nowhere.
at stake to be won or lost; at risk; hanging atŁtheŁendŁofŁ one’ rłpe and atŁtheŁend
inŁthe balance.Ł That’s a very risky in- ofŁ one’ tether at the limitsŁof one’sŁen-
vestmłnt. How much money is at stake? durance.Ł I’m at the end of my rope! I
I have everything at stake on this wager. just can’t go on this way! These kids are
driving me out of my mnd. I’m at the end
atŁthatŁrate in thað manner; að thað speed. of my tether.
(Se also at this rate.) If things kłep
progressing at that rate, wł’ll be rich by atŁtheŁendŁofŁ one’ tether Go to at the end
next year. At that rate wł’ll never głt the of one’s rope.
money that is owed us. atŁtheŁendŁofŁtheŁday whenŁeverything
atŁtheŁappointedŁtime at the announced else hasŁbeenŁtakenŁinto consideration.
orŁassignedŁtime.Ł The cØb pulled up in (Also literal.) At the end of the dØy you
the driveway at the appointed time. We will have to decide where you want to lve.
all młt at the hotel at the appointed time. The commttee interviewed many ap-
plicants for the post, but at the end of the
atŁ theŁ błttom ofŁ theŁ hour on the half dØy made no appointment.
hour; the opposite of at the top of the
hour. (Typically heard on television or the atŁtheŁexpenseŁofŁ someone ortsomething to
radio. RefersŁ to the minute handŁ on a the detriment of someone or sàmething;
clock.) Hear the news on WNAG at the to the harmŁof sàmeone or something.
bottom of the hour. We will have an in- He had a good laugh at the expłnse of his
terview with Harry Smith at the bottom of brother. He took a job in a better placł
the hour. at the expłnse of a larger income.
atŁtheŁbłttom ofŁtheŁladder at the low- atŁtheŁforefrontŁ(ofŁ something) and in the
est levelŁof payŁandŁsðatus.Ł Most peo- forefront (ofŁ something) the most impàr-
ple start work at the bottom of the ladder. tant place; the place of greatest activity.
When Ann got fired, she had to start all I interviewed Max Brown, the drector
over again at the bottom of the ladder. who is in the forefront of the movie in-
dustry. The university I go to is at the
atŁtheŁbreakŁofŁdawn Go to at the crack forefront of computer technology.
of dawn.
atŁtheŁheightŁofŁ something at the most in-
atŁtheŁcryckŁofŁdawn and atŁtheŁbreak tense orŁforcefulŁaspect of sàmething.
ofŁdawn at the time of the earliest light At the height of his career, Tom was known
of the day.Ł Jane was alwØys up at the around the world. At the height of the
crack of dØwn. The birds start singing party, there were 50 people present.
at the break of dØwn.
atŁtheŁhelm (ofŁ something) inŁthe position
atŁ theŁ drop ofŁ a hat immediatelyŁ and of beingŁinŁcontràlŁof something.Ł(Alsà
without urging. John was always ready literalŁforŁshipsŁandŁboats.) The presi-
to go fishing Øt the drop of a hat. If you dłnt is at the helm of the company.
need help, just call on me. I can come at Things will go well with Anne at the helm.
the drop of a hat.
at the last gasp at the very last; at the lasð
atŁtheŁeleventhŁhour at the last possible chance; at the last minute.Ł (RefersŁ to
moment.Ł (See also eleventh-hour deci- someone’sŁlast breath before death.)
sàon. ) She alwØys turned her term pa- She finally showed up at the last gasp,

28