[at hand] also [at close hand] or [near at hand] 1. Easy to reach; nearby. * /When he writes, he always keeps a dictionary at hand./ 2. Coming soon; almost here. * /Examinations are past and Commencement Day is at hand./
[at heart] 1. In spite of appearances; at bottom; in reality. * /His manners are rough but he is a kind man at heart./ 2. As a serious interest or concern; as an important aim or goal. * /He has the welfare of the poor at heart./
[at home] or 1. In the place where you live or come from. * * /I went to his house, but he was not at home./ * /Americans abroad are protected by the government like Americans at home./ 2. Knowing what to do or say; familiar; comfortable. * /Charles and John enjoy working together because they feel at home with each other./ * /The politician was at home among poor farmers and among rich factory owners./ * /Make the new student feel at home in your school./ * /Would you be at home driving a truck?/ * /Jim always lived by a lake, and he is at home in the water./ * /Tom has read many books about missiles and is at home in that subject./ Syn.: AT EASE(2). Compare: IN ONE'S ELEMENT, MAKE ONESELF AT HOME. Contrast: AT A LOSS.
[at issue] 1. In dispute; to be settled by debate, by vote, by battle, or by some other contest. * /His good name was at issue in the trial./ * /The independence of the United States from England was at issue in the Revolutionary War./ Compare: IN QUESTION. 2. Not in agreement; in conflict; opposing. * /His work as a doctor was at issue with other doctors' practice./ Syn.: AT ODDS.
[at it] Busily doing something; active. * /His rule for success was to keep always at it./ * /The couple who owned the little cleaning shop were at it early and late./ * /Mr. Curtis heard a loud crash in the next apartment - the neighbors were at it again./
[at large] or 1. Not kept within walls, fences, or boundaries; free. * /The killer remained at large for weeks./ Compare: AT LIBERTY. * /Cattle and sheep roamed at large on the big ranch./ 2. In a broad, general way; at length; fully. * /The superintendent talked at large for an hour about his hopes for a new school building./ 3. As a group rather than as individuals; as a whole; taken together. * /The junior class at large was not interested in a senior yearbook./ 4. As a representative of a whole political unit or area rather than one of its parts; from a city rather than one of its wards, or a state rather than one of its districts. * /He was elected congressman at large./ * /Aldermen are voted for at large./
