[at the eleventh hour] At the last possible time. * /Aunt Mathilda got married at the eleventh hour; after all, she was already 49 years old./
[at the end of one's rope] See: END OF ONE'S ROPE.
[at the kill] See: IN AT THE KILL.
[at the least] See: AT LEAST.
[at the mercy of] or [at one's mercy] In the power of; subject to the will and wishes of; without defense against. * /The champion had the other boxer at his mercy./ * /The picnic was at the mercy of the weather./ * /The small grocer was at the mercy of people he owed money to./
[at the most] See: AT MOST.
[at the outset] At the start; at the beginning. * /"You'll live in the cheaper barracks at the outset; later you can move into the better cabins," the camp director said to the new boys./
[at the outside] Maximally; at the utmost. * /This old house can cost no more than $40,000 at the outside./
[at the point of] Very near to; almost at or in. * /When Mary broke her favorite bracelet, she was at the point of tears./ * /The boy hurt in the accident lay at the point of death for a week, then he got well./ Compare: ABOUT TO(1), ON THE POINT OF.
[at the ready] Ready for use. * /The sailor stood at the bow, harpoon at the ready, as the boat neared the whale./
[at the same time] 1. In the same moment; together. * /The two runners reached the finish line at the same time./ Syn.: AT ONCE, AT ONE TIME. 2. In spite of that fact; even though; however; but; nevertheless. * /John did pass the test; at the same time, he didn't know the subject very well./
[at the seams] See: BURST AT THE SEAMS.
[at the table] or [at table] At a meal; at the dinner table. * /The telephone call came while they were all at table./
[at the tip of one's tongue] or [on the tip of one's tongue] 1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said. * /It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang./ * /John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he remembered his manners just in time./ 2. Almost remembered; at the point where one can almost say it but cannot because it is forgotten. * /I have his name on the tip of my tongue./
[at the top of one's voice] or [at the top of one's lungs] As loud as you can; with the greatest possible sound; very loudly. * /He was singing at the top of his voice./ * /He shouted at the top of his lungs./
