[alongside of] 1. At or along the side of. * /We walked alongside of the river./ 2. Together with. * /I played alongside of Tom on the same team./ Compare: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, SIDE BY SIDE. 3. Compared with or to; measured next to. * /His money doesn't look like much alongside of a millionaire's./
[a lot] , A large number or amount; very many or very much; lots. * /I learned a lot in Mr. Smith's class./ * /A lot of our friends are going to the beach this summer./ - Often used like an adverb. * /Ella is a jolly girl; she laughs a lot./ * /Grandfather was very sick last week, but he's a lot better now./ * /You'll have to study a lot harder if you want to pass./ - Also used as an adjective with "more", "less", and "fewer". * /There was a good crowd at the game today, but a lot more will come next week./ - Often used with "whole" for emphasis. * /John has a whole lot of marbles./ * /Jerry is a whole lot taller than he was a year ago./ Compare: GOOD DEAL, GOOD MANY, A NUMBER. Contrast: A FEW, A LITTLE.
[aloud] See: THINK ALOUD or THINK OUT LOUD.
[alpha wave] A brain wave, 8-12 cycles per second, associated with a state of relaxation and meditation and, hence, free of anxieties. * /Try to produce some alpha waves; you will instantly feel a lot better./
[alter] See: CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.
[always] See: GRASS is ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.
[ambulance chaser] An attorney who specializes in representing victims of traffic accidents. By extension, a lawyer of inferior rank or talent. * /Don't hire Cohen; he's just another ambulance chaser./
[American plan] 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./
[amount to] Signify; add up to. * /John's total income didn't amount to more than a few hundred dollars./
[a must] 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. * /Alfred Brendel's Beethoven master classes are open to the public and are not to be missed; they're a must./
[anchor] See: AT ANCHOR.
[--- and ---] 1. - And is used between repeated words to show continuation or emphasis. * /When the children saw the beautiful Christmas tree they looked and looked./ * /Old Mr, Bryan has known Grandfather for years and years, since they were boys./ * /Billy dived to the bottom of the lake again and again, looking for the lost watch./ * /Everyone wished the speaker would stop, but he talked on and on./ Compare: THROUGH AND THROUGH. 2. - When "and" is used between words with opposite meaning, it often emphasizes how much you mean. * /Mr. Jones worked early and late to earn enough to live./ * /The parents hunted high and low for the lost child./ Compare: DAY AND NIGHT, FROM -- TO, INSIDE AND OUT.
