[as regards] <prep.> Regarding; concerning; about. * /You needn't worry as regards the cost of the operation./ * /He was always secretive as regards his family./
[as soon as] <conj.> Just after; when; immediately after. * /As soon as the temperature falls to 70, the furnace is turned on./ * /As soon as you finish your job let me know./ * /He will see you as soon as he can./
[as the crow flies] <adv. clause> By the most direct way; along a straight line between two places. * /It is seven miles to the next town as the crow flies, but it is ten miles by the road, which goes around the mountain./
[as the story goes] <adv. phr.> As the story is told; as one has heard through rumor. * /As the story goes, Jonathan disappeared when he heard the police were after him./
[as though] See: AS IF.
[as to] <prep.> 1. In connection with; about; regarding. * /There is no doubt as to his honesty./ * /As to your final grade, that depends on your final examination./ Syn.: WITH RESPECT TO. 2. According to; following; going by. * /They sorted the eggs as to size and color./
[as usual] <adv. phr.> In the usual way; as you usually do or as it usually does. * /As usual, Tommy forgot to make his bed before he went out to play./ * /Only a week after the fire in the store, it was doing business as usual./
[as well] <adv. phr.> 1. In addition; also, too; besides. * /The book tells about Mark Twain's writings and about his life as well./ * /Tom is captain of the football team and is on the baseball team as well./ 2. Without loss and possibly with gain. * /After the dog ran away, Father thought he might as well sell the dog house./ * /Since he can't win the race, he may as well quit./ * /It's just as well you didn't come yesterday, because we were away./
[as well as] <conj.> In addition to; and also; besides. * /Hiking is good exercise as well as fun./ * /He was my friend as well as my doctor./ * /The book tells about the author's life as well as about his writings./
[as yet] <adv. phr.> Up to the present time; so far; yet. * /We know little as yet about the moon's surface./ * /She has not come as yet./
[as you please] 1. As you like, whatever you like or prefer; as you choose. * /You may do as you please./ 2. <informal> Very. - Used after an adjective or adverb often preceded by "as". * /There was Tinker, sitting there, cheerful as you please./ * /She was dressed for the dance and she looked as pretty as you please./
[at a blow] or [at a stroke] or [at one stroke] <adv. phr.> Immediately; suddenly; with one quick or forceful action. * /The pirates captured the ship and captured a ton of gold at a blow./ * /A thousand men lost their jobs at a stroke when the factory closed./ * /All the prisoners escaped at one stroke./ Compare: AT ONCE, AT ONE TIME.
[at all] <adv. phr.> At any time or place, for any reason, or in any degree or manner. - Used for emphasis with certain kinds of words or sentences. 1. Negative * /It's not at all likely he will come./ 2. Limited * /I can hardly hear you at all./ 3. Interrogative * /Can it be done at all?/ 4. Conditional * /She will walk with a limp, if she walks at all./ Syn.: IN THE LEAST.
[at all costs] <adv. phr.> At any expense of time, effort, or money. Regardless of the results. * /Mr. Jackson intended to save his son's eyesight at all costs./ * /Carl is determined to succeed in his new job at all costs./
[at all events] See: IN ANY CASE.
[at all hazards] <adv. phr.> With no regard for danger; at any risk; regardless of the chances you must take. * /The racer meant to win the 500-mile race at all hazards./
[at all hours] <adv. phr.> Any time; all the time; at almost any time. * /The baby cried so much that we were up at all hours trying to calm her down./
[at a loss] <adj. phr.> In a state of uncertainty; without any idea; puzzled. * /A good salesman is never at a loss for words./ * /When Don missed the last bus, he was at a loss to know what to do./
[at anchor] <adj. phr.> Held by an anchor from floating away; anchored. * /The ship rode at anchor in the harbor./
[at any rate] <adv. phr.> In any case; anyhow. * /It isn't much of a car, but at any rate it was not expensive./ Compare: AT LEAST(2), IN ANY CASE.
[at a premium] <adv. phr.> At a high price due to special circumstances. * /When his father died, Fred flew to Europe at a premium because he had no chance to buy a less expensive ticket./
[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./