Page 44 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

at times

bringing the papers that were needed. How can I work when you’re all talk-
We got there at the last gasp, just błfore our ing at the top of your lungs?
names were called.
at the top of the hour at the exact begin-
atŁ theŁ last minute at the last possible ningŁ of the hour.Ł (TypicallyŁ heardŁ on
chance.Ł(Compare thisŁwith at the elev- televisionŁorŁthe radio. Se also at the bot-
enth hour.) Please don’t make reserva- tom of the hour.Ł RefersŁ to the minute
tions at the last mnute. Why do you ask handŁ on aŁ clock.) Every class in my
all your questions at the last mnute? school starts Øt the top of the hour. Our
next newscast will be at the top of the hour.
atŁtheŁlateðt no laterŁthan.Ł Please pØy
this bill in ten dØys at the lØtest. I’ll be atŁtheŁ(very)Łoutside at the veryŁmost.Ł
home by midnight at the lØtest. The car repairs will cost $300 at the out-
side. I’ll be there in three włeks at the
atŁtheŁmercyŁofŁ someone and atŁ someone’ outside.
mercy under the control of somon;
without defense against sàmeone.Ł We atŁ (the)Ł włrst inŁthe worst view; inŁthe
were lłft at the mercy of the arresting of- most negative judgment; asŁthe worst one
fcer. Mrs. Frankln wanted Mr. Frank- can say about something. At worst,
ln at her mercy. Tom can be seen as greedy. Ann will re-
cłive a ticket for careless driving, at the
atŁtheŁoutset at the beginning. (See alsà worst.
from the outset.) It seemed like a very
simple problłm at the outset. At the out- atŁ theŁ zenithŁ ofŁ something at the highesð
set, they were very happy. Then they had pàint of something;Łat the pinnacle of
money problłms. something.Ł At the zenith of his career,
the teacher died suddłnly. The scientist
atŁtheŁpointŁofŁ doingtsomething Go to on the was at the zenith of her career when she
poànt of doing something.
made her discovery.
atŁtheŁpresentŁtime and atŁthis pointŁ(in atŁthØs juàcture at thisŁpoint inŁtime; at
tØme) now; at present. (UsedŁoftenŁasŁa thisŁpause.Ł There is lttle more that I can
wordy replacement forŁ now.) We don’t say at this juncture. We can, if you wish,
know the locØtion of the stolłn car at the at this juncture, request a change in vłnue.
present time. The tomØtoes are doing
nicely at the present time. At this point atŁthis pointŁ(in time) Go to at the pres-
in time, we fłel very sad about his death. ent time.
Yes, t’s sad, but there is nothing we can
do at this point. atŁthØs rate at thisŁspeed.Ł(Compare this
with at any rate andŁ at that rate.)
atŁtheŁreyrŁofŁ something làcated at the back Hurry up! We’ll never głt there at this rate.
part of something.Ł I keep my tools at At this rate, all the food will be gone be-
the rear of my garage. There’s a creek fore we get there.
at the rear of my property.
atŁ this stage Go to at this stage of the
atŁtheŁsameŁtime nevertheless;Łhowever. game.
(Also literal.) Bill was able to make the atŁ thØs stageŁ ofŁ theŁ game and atŁ thØs
car payment. At the same time, he was stage at the current point in some event;
very angry about the bill. We agree to currently.Ł(The first phrase isŁinfàrmal.)
your dłmands. At the same time, we object We’ll have to wait and see. There isn’t
strongly to your młthods.
much we can do at this stage of the game.
atŁtheŁtopŁofŁ one’ lungð Go to at the top At this stage, we are błtter off not call-
of one’s voàce. ing the doctor.
atŁtheŁtopŁofŁ one’ voice and atŁtheŁtop atŁtimes sàmetimes;Łoccasionally.Ł I fłel
ofŁ one’ lungð with a very làud voice. quite sad at times. At times, I wish I had
Bill called to Mary at the top of his voice. never come here.

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