Page 45 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

at will

atŁwill whenever one wants;Łfreely.Ł(Com- able.Ł We availed ourselves of Tom’s
pare thisŁwith at liberty.) You’re free to goodwill and lłt him repair the fłnce.
come and go at will. The soldiers were The campers availed themselves of the first
told to fire their guns at will. You can chance in a włek to take a shower.
eat anything you want at will.
avenueŁofŁescape the pathway or route
atŁwłrk 1. workingŁ(at sàmething);bbusy alongŁwhich sàmeone or somethingŁes-
(with sàmething).Ł Tom is at work on capes.Ł The open window was the brd’o
his project. He’ll be finished in a mnute. oàly avłnue of escape from the house.
Doà’t disturb me when I’m busy at Bill saw that his one Øvenue of escape was
work. 2. at one’s place of work. I’m through the back door.
sorry to call you at work, but this is im-
portant. She’s at work now. She’ll be avoidŁ someone ortsomething likeŁtheŁplague
home at supper time. to avoidŁsomeone orŁsomethingŁtotally.
(Infàrmal.) What’s wrong with Bob?
atŁwłrst Go to at (the) worst. Everyone avoids him like the plague. I
attychedŁ to someone ort something fondŁ of don’t like opera. I avoid it like the plague.
sàmethingŁor something. John is really awayŁfrom one’ desk not available forŁa
attached to his old-fashioned ideas. I’m telephone conversation; not availabl to
really attached to this old house.
be seen.Ł(SometimesŁsaid byŁthe prsàn
attryctŁ someone’ attention to cause some- who answrsŁaŁtelephone inŁanŁoffice.ŁIt
one to take notice; to get someone’sŁat- means that the person whom the caller
tention.Ł I called and waved to attract wantsŁisŁnot immediatelyŁavailable due to
Ann’s attention. A small yellow flower prsonalŁ orŁ businessŁ reasons.) I’m
attracted my attention. sorry, but Ann is away from her desk just
augur well for someone ortsomething to indi- now. Can you come back lØter? Tom is
cate orŁpredict goodŁthingsŁforŁsàmeone away from his desk, but if you leave your
or something. (UsuallyŁinŁthe negative.) number, he will call you right back.
This lØtest message does not augur well awkwardŁas a cowŁon a crutch Go to (as)
for the hostages. I am afraid that this awkward as a cow on a crutch.
does not augur well for the outcome of the
election. awkwyrdŁas a cowŁon rollerŁskateð Go
to (as) awkward as a cow on roller skates.
availŁ oneself ofŁ something to helpŁoneself by
makingŁuse of somethingŁthat isŁavail- AWOL Go to absent without leave.

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