[at arm’s length] See: KEEP AT A DISTANCE or KEEP AT ARM’S LENGTH.

[at a set time]{prep. phr.} At a particular, pre-specified time. •/Do we have to eat in this hotel at a set time, or may we come down whenever we want?/

[at a snail’s pace] See: SNAIL’S PACE.

[at a straw] See: GRASP AT STRAWS.

[at a stroke] See: AT A BLOW or AT A STROKE.

[at a time]{adv. phr.} At once; at one time; in one group or unit; together. •/He checked them off one at a time as they came in./ •/He ran up the steps two at a time./ See: EVERY OTHER. •/They showed up for class three and four at a time./

[at bay]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In a place where you can no longer run away; unable to go back farther; forced to stand and fight, or face an enemy; cornered. •/The dog ran the rat into a corner, and there the rat turned at bay./ •/The police chased the thief to a roof, where they held him at bay until more policemen came to help./ Compare: BRING TO BAY.

[at best] or [at the best] {adv. phr.} 1. Under the best conditions; as the best possibility. •/A coal miner’s job is dirty and dangerous at best./ •/We can’t get to New York before ten o’clock at best./ Compare: AT MOST. Contrast: AT WORST. 2. In the most favorable way of looking at something; even saying the best about the thing. * The /treasurer had at best been careless with the club’s money, but most people thought he had been dishonest./

[at both ends] See: BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS.

[at call]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Ready or nearby for use, help, or service; on request. •/Thousands of auto insurance agents all over the country are at the insured person’s call, wherever he may travel./ 2. At the word of command; at an order or signal. •/The dog was trained to come at call./

[at close range]{adv. phr.} Close by; in proximity. •/The police officer fired at the fleeing murder suspect at close range./

[at cross purposes]{adv. phr.} With opposing meanings or aims; with opposing effect or result; with aims which hinder or get in each other’s way. •/Tom’s parents acted at cross purposes in advising him; his father wanted him to become a doctor; but his mother wanted him to become a minister./

[at death’s door]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Very near death; dying. •/He seemed to be at death’s door from his illness./

[at each other’s throats]{prep. phr.} Always arguing and quarreling. •/Joan and Harry have been at each other’s throats so long that they have forgotten how much they used to love one another./

[at ease] or [at one’s ease] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. In comfort; without pain or bother. •/You can’t feel at ease with a toothache./ 2. or [at one’s ease] Comfortable in one’s mind; relaxed, not troubled. — Often used in the phrase "put at ease" or "put at one’s ease." •/We put Mary at her ease during the thunderstorm by reading her stories./ Compare: AT HOME(2). Contrast: ILL AT EASE, ON EDGE. 3. Standing with your right foot in place and without talking in military ranks. •/The sergeant gave his men the command "At ease!"/ Compare: PARADE REST.

[at every turn]{adv. phr.} Every time; all the time; continually without exception. •/Because of his drinking, the man was refused a job at every turn./

[at face value]{prep. phr.} What one can actually hear, read, or see; literally. •/John is so honest that you can take his words at face value./ •/This store’s advertisements are honest; take them at face value./

[at fault]{adj. phr.} Responsible for an error or failure; to blame. •/The driver who didn’t stop at the red light was at fault in the accident./ •/When the engine would not start, the mechanic looked at all the parts to find what was at fault./ Syn.: IN THE WRONG.

[at first]{adv. phr.} In the beginning; at the start. •/The driver didn’t see the danger at first./ •/At first the job looked good to Bob, but later it became tiresome./ •/There was a little trouble at first, but things soon were quiet./

[at first blush]{adv. phr.} When first seen; without careful study. •/At first blush the offer looked good, but when we studied it, we found things we could not accept./

[at first glance] or [at first sight] {adv.} or {adj. phr.} After a first quick look. •/At first sight, his guess was that the whole trouble between the two men resulted from personalities that did not agree./ •/Tom met Mary at a party, and it was love at first sight./

[at great length]{prep. phr.} 1. In great detail. •/Jim told us the story of his life at great length./ 2. For a long time. •/The boring speaker rambled on at great length./

[at half mast]{prep. phr.} Halfway up or down; referring primarily to flagposts, but may be used jokingly. •/When a president of the United States dies, all flags are flown at half mast./

[at hand] also [at close hand] or [near at hand] {adv. phr.} 1. Easy to reach; nearby. •/When he writes, he always keeps a dictionary at hand./ 2. {formal} Coming soon; almost here. •/Examinations are past and Commencement Day is at hand./

[at heart]{adv. phr.} 1. In spite of appearances; at bottom; in reality. •/His manners are rough but he is a kind man at heart./ 2. As a serious interest or concern; as an important aim or goal. •/He has the welfare of the poor at heart./

[at home]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. In the place where you live or come from. * •/I went to his house, but he was not at home./ •/Americans abroad are protected by the government like Americans at home./ 2. Knowing what to do or say; familiar; comfortable. •/Charles and John enjoy working together because they feel at home with each other./ •/The politician was at home among poor farmers and among rich factory owners./ •/Make the new student feel at home in your school./ •/Would you be at home driving a truck?/ •/Jim always lived by a lake, and he is at home in the water./ •/Tom has read many books about missiles and is at home in that subject./ Syn.: AT EASE(2). Compare: IN ONE’S ELEMENT, MAKE ONESELF AT HOME. Contrast: AT A LOSS.

[at issue]{adj. phr.} 1. In dispute; to be settled by debate, by vote, by battle, or by some other contest. •/His good name was at issue in the trial./ •/The independence of the United States from England was at issue in the Revolutionary War./ Compare: IN QUESTION. 2. Not in agreement; in conflict; opposing. •/His work as a doctor was at issue with other doctors' practice./ Syn.: AT ODDS.

[at it]{adj. phr.} Busily doing something; active. •/His rule for success was to keep always at it./ •/The couple who owned the little cleaning shop were at it early and late./ •/Mr. Curtis heard a loud crash in the next apartment — the neighbors were at it again./

[at large]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. Not kept within walls, fences, or boundaries; free. •/The killer remained at large for weeks./ Compare: AT LIBERTY. •/Cattle and sheep roamed at large on the big ranch./ 2. In a broad, general way; at length; fully. •/The superintendent talked at large for an hour about his hopes for a new school building./ 3. As a group rather than as individuals; as a whole; taken together. •/The junior class at large was not interested in a senior yearbook./ 4. As a representative of a whole political unit or area rather than one of its parts; from a city rather than one of its wards, or a state rather than one of its districts. •/He was elected congressman at large./ •/Aldermen are voted for at large./