Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 21 at fault - to be responsible for something, to be to blame for something The truck driver was at fault for the terrible accident. at first - at the beginning At first, I did not want to go to the movie but I later changed my mind. at first blush - when first seen, without careful study At first blush the man seemed like a good worker but later he had many problems. at hand - within reach, nearby I stopped working because I did not have any tools at hand. at heart - basically, fundamentally The woman is a nice person at heart although many people dislike her. at home - in one`s house I left my money at home so I had to borrow some. at it again - to be doing something again The two boys were at it again. We could hear them fighting. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 22 at large - to be free, to not be captured The criminal was at large for many months. at last - finally, after a long time I waited all morning for my friend's call until at last it came. at least - no less than There were at least 60,000 people in the stadium. at length - in detail, finally The speaker talked at length about the new product. at loggerheads (with someone) - to be having a quarrel or disagreement with someone, to oppose someone We are at loggerheads with the company over their plans to build a new factory. at loose ends - restless and unsettled My friend's mother was at loose ends after her husband died. at odds (with someone) - in disagreement with someone The man has been at odds with his boss over his new sales territory. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 23 at once - immediately The police came at once after we called them. at one sitting - at one time We finished the food at one sitting. at peace - peaceful, happy The woman was relaxed and at peace after her friend's funeral. at random - without sequence or order The members of the team were chosen at random from among the regular players. at risk - in danger The children were at risk of getting sick when the disease spread in the school. at sea - to be on the sea, to be away on a voyage on the ocean My grandfather was at sea for several months when he was a young man. at sea (about something) - to be confused about something, to be lost Most members of the class were at sea when the teacher tried to explain the difficult theory. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 24 at sixes and sevens - to be lost and bewildered We were at sixes and sevens when the local grocery store closed. at (someone`s) beck and call - to be always ready to serve someone or do something for someone The woman is always at her husband's beck and call. at (someone's) earliest convenience - when something is convenient for someone I plan to speak to the bank manager at his earliest convenience. at (someone's) service - ready to help someone in any way possible A member of the hotel staff was at our service during our visit. at stake - to be able to be won or lost, to be at risk Much money was at stake during the negotiations for the new stadium. at the appointed hour/time - at the time that has been decided We went to meet the lawyer at the appointed time. at the bottom of the hour - at the half hour - 10:30, 11:30 etc. (like the bottom of a clock) The weather forecast is on the radio at the bottom of the hour. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 25 at the bottom of the ladder - at the lowest level of pay and status in a company or organization I will start at the bottom of the ladder at my new job. at the crack of dawn - when the first light of the day appears, very early in the morning We left for our holiday at the crack of dawn. at the drop of a hat - immediately and without any pressure My friend will always help me at the drop of a hat. at the eleventh hour - at the last possible moment The company and the union settled the strike at the eleventh hour. at the end of one`s rope - at the limit of one`s ability to cope/deal with something I am at the end of my rope about what to do about my problems at work. at the end of the day - when everything else has been taken into consideration At the end of the day, it was impossible to get the money to build the house. at the expense of (someone or something) - to be to the harm of (someone or something) The man was very successful but it was at the expense of his family and health. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 26 at the latest - no later than The tour will start at noon at the latest. at the outset - from the first or early stage At the outset of the meeting there were problems between some members of the group. at the present time - now, at present At the present time there are no extra helpers available. at the top of one's lungs - with a very loud voice I cried out for my friend at the top of my lungs. at the top of the hour - at the beginning of the hour - 12:00, 1:00 etc. (like the top of a clock) The radio news always starts at the top of the hour. at this juncture - at the present time At this juncture there is no point to have the meeting. at this stage of the game - currently, at the current point in some event At this stage of the game we cannot change the plans for the class trip. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 27 at times - sometimes, occasionally At times, our teacher is very nice but at other times she is not nice. at will - whenever one wants, freely The little boy was able to do what he wanted at will. . attend to (someone or something) - to take care or deal with someone or something The doctor attended to the patient. attract (someone's) attention - to cause someone to notice you The strange behavior of the man attracted the policeman's attention. augur well for (someone or something) - to predict good things for someone or something The poor business conditions do not augur well for the workers. avail oneself of (something) - to use something that is available We availed ourselves of the office space to prepare for the school festival. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 28 avenue of escape - the route along which someone or something escapes There was no avenue of escape for the bank robbers. avoid (someone or something) like the plague - to avoid someone or something totally The girls avoided the new student like the plague. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 29 B back Idioms back and forth - backwards and forwards, first one way and then the other way The argument went back and forth before the judge made a decision. back down (from someone or something) - to fail to carry through on a threat to do something The government backed down from their plan to sell the national airline. back in circulation - to be available to the public again (a library book) The books were back in circulation after we returned them to the library. back in circulation - to be socially active again (after the breakup of a relationship between two people) My friend stopped seeing his girlfriend and he is now back in circulation. back of beyond - somewhere very remote Every summer we go to the back of beyond for a camping trip. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 30 back off - to retreat or move away (from a fight or argument or an object) The man wanted to start an argument but finally he backed off. back on one`s feet - to return to good financial or physical health My friend is back on his feet after his company went out of business. back out (of something) - to withdraw from an agreement or promise The company backed out of the agreement with the foreign firm. back the wrong horse - to support someone or something that cannot win or succeed We backed the wrong horse in the election and our candidate lost badly. back-to-back - something follows immediately after something else, two people touching backs There were two back-to-back games today because of the rain last week. back to square one - to go back to the beginning of something The city was back to square one in their effort to build a new bridge. back to the drawing board - to go back and start a project or idea from the beginning The boss does not like our idea so we must go back to the drawing board. . meet the lawyer at the appointed time. at the bottom of the hour - at the half hour - 10 :30 , 11 :30 etc. (like the bottom of a clock) The weather forecast is on the radio at the bottom of. was at sea for several months when he was a young man. at sea (about something) - to be confused about something, to be lost Most members of the class were at sea when the teacher tried to. The man has been at odds with his boss over his new sales territory. Mr_doody2004@yahoo.com 23 at once - immediately The police came at once after we called them. at one sitting -