[a bit] {n., informal} A small amount; some. * /There's no sugar in the sugar bowl, but you may find a bit in the bag./ * /If the ball had hit the window a bit harder, it would have broken it./ - Often used like an adverb. * /This sweater scratches a bit./ - Also used like an adjective before "less", "more". * /Janet thought she could lose weight by eating a bit less./ * /"Have some more cake?" "Thanks. A bit more won't hurt me."/ - Often used adverbially after verbs in negative, interrogative, and conditional sentences, sometimes in the form "one bit". * /"Won't your father be angry?" "No, he won't care a bit."/ * /Helen feels like crying, but I'll be surprised if she shows it one bit./ - Sometimes used with "little" for emphasis, also in the emphatic form "the least bit". * /"Wasn't Bob even a little bit sorry he forgot his date?" "No, Bob wasn't the least bit sorry."/ Syn.: A LITTLE. Contrast: A LOT.
[about face] {n.} A sudden change of course or a decision opposite to what was decided earlier. * /His decision to become an electrician instead of a kitchen chef was an about face from his original plans./
[above all] {adv. phr.} Of first or highest importance; most especially. * /Children need many things, but above all they need love./ Syn.: FIRST AND LAST.
[about time] {n. phr.} Finally, but later than it should have been; at last. * /Molly said, "It's about time you got prepared for the show, Peggy."/
[ace in the hole] {n. phr.} {informal} Someone or something important that is kept as a surprise until the right time so as to bring victory or success. * /The soccer team has a new player that they are keeping as an ace in the hole for the championship game./ * /The lawyer's ace in the hole was a secret witness who saw the accident./
[act of faith] {n. phr.} An act or a deed that shows unquestioning belief in someone or something. * /It was a real act of faith on Murray's part to entrust his equipment to his younger brother's care./
[act one's age] or [be one's age] {v. phr.} To do the things that people expect someone of your age to do, not act as if you were much younger than you are. * /James was playing tag with the children at the camp side. Then Mary said, "James! Act your age!" and he stopped./
[add insult to injury] {v. phr.} 1. To hurt someone's feelings after doing him harm. * /He added insult to injury when he called the man a rat after he had already beaten him up./ 2. To make bad trouble worse. * /We started on a picnic, and first it rained, then to add insult to injury, the car broke down./
[alive with] {prep.}, {informal} Crowded with; filled with. * /The lake was alive with fish./ * /The stores were alive with people the day before New year’s eve./
[all the time] {adv. phr.} 1. or [all the while] During the whole period; through the whole time. * /Hary went to univercity in his home town and lived at home all the while./ * /Most of us were surprised to hear that Susan and Terry had been engaged all year, but Jill said she knew it all the time./ 2. Without stopping; continuously * /Most traffic lights work all the time./ 3. Very often; many times. * /Ruth talks about her trip to Europe all the time, and her friends are tired of it./
[all told] {adv. phr.}, {informal} Counting or including everything. * /Including candy sale profits we have collected $300 all told./
[American plan] {n.} A system of hotel management in which meals are included with the room, as opposed to the European plan that does not include meals. * /American tourists in Europe sometimes expect that their meals will be included, because they are used to the American plan./
[a must] {n.} 1. An inevitability; a necessity. * /Visas in many foreign countries are a must./ 2. An extremely interesting or memorable event, such as a free concert given by an international celebrity. * /Jean Michel Jarre’s concert in London is absolutely free and is not to be missed; he’s a must./
[answer to] {v.} To be named; go by a certain name or designation; be accountable. * /When you walk my dog, please remember that he answers to the name "Pluto."/ * /As head of the company he does not have to answer to anyone./
[as far as] or [so far as] {adv. phr.} 1. To the degree or amount that; according to what, how much, or how far. * /Jamie did a good job as far as she went, but she did not finish it./ * /So far as the weather is concerned, I do not think it matters so much./ * /As far as he was concerned, things were going well./ 2. To the extent that; within the limit that. * /Harriet has no brothers or sisters so far as I know./
[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.
[asleep at the switch] {adj. phr.} 1. Asleep when it is one's duty to move a railroad switch for cars to go on the right track. * /The new man was asleep at the switch and the two trains crashed./ 2. {informal} Failing to act promptly as expected, not alert to an opportunity. * /When the ducks flew over, the boy was asleep at the switch and missed his shot./
[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./ 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 least] {adv. phr.} 1. or [at the least] At the smallest guess; no fewer than; no less than. * /You should brush your teeth at least twice a day. * /Mr. Johnson must weigh 200 pounds at least./ 2. Whatever else you may say; anyhow; anyway. * /It was a clumsy move, but at least it saved her from getting hit./ * /She broke her arm, but at least it wasn't the arm she writes with./
[at loose ends] {adj. phr.} Without a regular job or settled habits; uncertain what to do next; having nothing to do for a while; undecided; unsettled; restless. * /Feeling at loose ends, he went for a long walk in the woods./ * /She had finished foreign college but hadn't found a job yet, so she was at loose ends./
[at sixes and sevens] {adj. phr.} Not in order; in confusion; in a mess. * /He apologized because his wife was away and the house was at sixes and sevens./ * /Our teacher had just moved to a new classroom, and she was still at sixes and sevens./
[at worst] or [at the worst] {adv. phr.} 1. Under the worst conditions; as the worst possibility. * /When Don was caught cheating in the examination he thought that at worst he would get a scolding./ Contrast AT BEST. 2. In the least favorable view, to say the worst about a thing. * /The treasurer had certainly not stolen any of the club's money; at worst, he had forgotten to write down some of the things he had spent money for./
[ax to grind] {n. phr.}, {informal} Something to gain for yourself: a selfish reason. * /In praising movies for classroom use he has an ax to grind; he sells motion picture equipment./ *
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