— Used with an adjective or adverb in a comparison or with
the effect of a superlative. •/John is as tall as his father now./ •/I
didn’t do as badly today as I did yesterday./ •/John’s father gave him a
hard job and told him to do as well as possible./ •/The sick girl was not
hungry, but her mother told her to eat as much as she could./ — Also used in
the form "so --- as" in some sentences, especially negative sentences. •/This
hill isn’t nearly so high as the last one we climbed./ — Often used in
similes (comparisons that are figures of speech). •/The baby mouse looked as
big as a minute./ •/Jim’s face was red as a beet after he made the foolish
mistake./ — Most similes in conventional use are cliches, avoided by careful
speakers and writers.
[as best one can]
{adv. phr.} As well as you can; by whatever means are
available; in the best way you can. •/The car broke down in the middle of the
night, and he had to get home as best he could./ •/George’s foot hurt, but
he played the game as best he could./ •/The girl’s mother was sick, so the
girl got dinner as best she could./
[as catch can]
See: CATCH AS CATCH CAN.
[as far as]
or [so far as]{adv. phr.} 1. To the degree or amount
that; according to what, how much, or how far. •/John did a good job as far
as he went, but he did not finish it./ •/So far as the weather is
concerned, I do not think it matters./ •/As far as he was concerned, things
were going well./ 2. To the extent that; within the limit that. •/He has no
brothers so far as I know./ Compare: FOR ALL(2).
[as far as that goes]
or [as far as that is concerned] or [so far as
that is concerned] also [so far as that goes]{adv. phr.} While we
are talking about it; also; actually. •/You don’t have to worry about the
girls. Mary can take care of herself, and as far as that goes, Susan is pretty
independent, too./ •/I didn’t enjoy the movie, and so far as that is
concerned, I never like horror movies./ Syn.: FOR THAT MATTER, IN FACT.
Compare: COME TO THINK OF IT.
[as follows]
A list of things that come next; what is listed next. — Followed by a colon. •/My grocery list is as follows: bread, butter, meat,
eggs, sugar./ •/The names of the members are as follows: John Smith, Mary
Webb, Linda Long, Ralph Harper./ •/The route is as follows: From City Hall
go south on Main Street to Elm Street, east on Elm to 5th Street, and south on
5th two blocks to the school./
[as for]
{prep.} 1. In regard to; speaking of; concerning. •/We have
plenty of bread, and as for butter, we have more than enough./ 2. Speaking
for. •/Most people like the summer but as for me, I like winter much
better./ Compare: FOR ONE’S PART.
[as good as]
{adv. phr.} Nearly the same as; almost. •/She claimed
that he as good as promised to marry her./ •/He as good as called me a
liar./ •/We’ll get to school on time, we’re as good as there now./
•/The man who had been shot was as good as dead./ — Often used without the
first "as" before adjectives. •/When the car was repaired, it looked good as
new./