Archive for March, 2014

Expressions with at

March 5th, 2014 in English Learning

Here is a list of expressions using the preposition at.

At all

This expression is common after words like ‘any’, ‘anything’, ‘anyone’ or ‘nothing’. It is used to ask if something is even slightly true.

I don’t know anything at all about electronics.

I haven’t got any money at all.

The situation hasn’t improved at all.

At your best / worst etc

When you are at your best, you show your best qualities.

This is an example of constructive criticism at its best.

Television shows are at their worst these days.

At lunch/dinner/breakfast etc

If somebody is at lunch, they are having lunch.

‘Can I meet Susie?’ ‘I’m sorry, she is at lunch. Would you mind waiting for ten minutes?’

At someone’s request/suggestion

If you do something at someone’s request, you do it because someone asked you to do it.

At my suggestion, he wrote to his estranged wife.

An invitation was conducted at his request.

Be at it

If somebody is at it, they are doing something that you don’t approve of.

I asked him to stop playing that instrument, but he is at it again.

She’s at it again, trying to fool him.

While you’re at it

This expression is used to tell someone to do something while they are doing something else.

‘I am going to iron my clothes.’ ‘Well, you can iron my clothes too while you are at it.

Good at / bad it

If you are good at something, you are skillful in it.

I have never been good at singing.

She is an expert at cooking.