{adv. phr.} Under your influence or power. •/She had
a dozen men at her feet./ •/Her voice kept audiences at her feet for
years./ Compare: THROW ONESELF AT SOMEONE’S FEET.
[at one’s fingertips]
{adv. phr.} 1. Within easy reach; quickly
touched; nearby. •/Seated in the cockpit, the pilot of a plane has many
controls at his fingertips./ 2. Readily usable as knowledge or skill;
familiar. •/He had several languages at his fingertips./ •/He had the
whole design of the machine at his fingertips./
[at one’s heels]
{adv. phr.} Close behind; as a constant follower or
companion. •/The boy got tired of having his little brother at his heels all
day./ •/John ran by the finish line with Ned at his heels./ •/Bad luck
followed at his heels all his life./
[at one’s leisure]
See: AT LEISURE(2).
[at one’s service]
{adv. phr.} 1. Ready to serve or help you; prepared
to obey your wish or command; subject to your orders. •/He placed himself
completely at the President’s service./ •/"Now I am at your service," the
dentist told the next patient./ 2. Available for your use; at your disposal.
•/He put a car and chauffeur at the visitor’s service./
[at one stroke]
See: AT A BLOW or AT ONE STROKE.
[at one’s wit’s end]
or [at wits end]{adj. phr.} Having no ideas
as to how to meet a difficulty or solve a problem; feeling puzzled after having
used up all of your ideas or resources; not knowing what to do; puzzled. •/He
had approached every friend and acquaintance for help in vain, and now he was
at his wit’s end./ •/The designer was at his wit’s end: he had tried out
wings of many different kinds but none would fly./ Compare: AT A LOSS, END OF
ONE’S ROPE.
[at one’s word]
See: TAKE AT ONE’S WORD.
[at one time]
{adv. phr.} 1. In the same moment; together. •/Let’s
start the dance again all at one time./ •/Mr. Reed’s bills came all at one
time and he could not pay them./ Syn.: AT THE SAME TIME(1). 2. At a certain
time in the past; years ago. •/At one time people thought that Minnesota was
not a good place to live./ •/At one time most school teachers were men, but
today there are more women than men./
[at pains]
{adj. phr.} Making a special effort. •/At pains to make a
good impression, she was prompt for her appointment./
[at present]
{adv. phr.} At this time; now. •/It took a long time to
get started, but at present the road is half finished./ •/At present the
house is empty, but next week a family will move in./
[at random]
{adv. phr.} With no order, plan, or purpose; in a mixed-up,
or thoughtless way. •/He opened the letters at random./ •/His clothes
were scattered about the room at random./
[at sea(1)]
{adv.} or {adj. phr.} 1. On an ocean voyage; on a
journey by ship. •/They had first met at sea./ 2. Out on the ocean; away
from land. •/By the second day the ship was well out at sea./ •/Charles
had visited a ship in dock, but he had never been on a ship at sea./