Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц - [8]

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[all at once]{adv. phr.} 1. At the same time; together. •/The teacher told the children to talk one at a time; if they all talked at one time, she could not understand them./ •/Bill can play the piano, sing, and lead his orchestra all at once./ 2. or [all of a sudden] Without warning; abruptly; suddenly; unexpectedly. •/All at once we heard a shot and the soldier fell to the ground./ •/All of a sudden the ship struck a rock./ Compare: AT ONCE.

[all better]{adj. phr.} Fully recovered; all well again; no longer painful. — Usually used to or by children. •/"All better now," he kept repeating to the little girl./

[all but]{adv. phr.} Very nearly; almost. •/Crows all but destroyed a farmer’s field of corn./ •/The hikers were exhausted and all but frozen when they were found./

[all ears]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Very eager to hear; very attentive. — Used in the predicate. •/Go ahead with your story; we are all ears./ •/When John told about the circus, the boys were all ears./

[alley] See: BLIND ALLEY, DOWN ONE’S ALLEY or UP ONE’S ALLEY.

[alley cat]{n.}, {slang} 1. A stray cat. 2. A person (usually a female) of rather easy-going, or actually loose sexual morals; a promiscuous person. •/You’ll have no problem dating her; she’s a regular alley cat./

[all eyes]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Wide-eyed with surprise or curiosity; watching very closely. — Used in the predicate. •/At the circus the children were all eyes./

[all gone]{adj. phr.} Used up; exhausted (said of supplies); done with; over with. •/We used to travel a lot, but, alas, those days are all gone./

[all here] See: ALL THERE.

[all hours]{n. phr.}, {informal} Late or irregular times. •/The boy’s mother said he must stop coming home for meals at all hours./ •/He stayed up till all hours of the night to finish his school work./

[all in]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Very tired; exhausted. •/The players were all in after their first afternoon of practice./ Syn.: PLAYED OUT, WORN OUT.

[all in a day’s work] or [all in the day’s work]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Unpleasant or bad but to be expected; not harder than usual; not unusual. •/Keeping ants away from a picnic lunch is all in the day’s work./ •/When the car had a flat tire, Father said that it was all in a day’s work./ Compare: PAR FOR THE COURSE, PUT UP WITH.

[all in all(1)]{n. phr.}, {literary} The person or thing that you love most. •/She was all in all to him./ •/Music was his all in all./

[all in all(2)] or [in all]{adv. phr.} When everything is thought about; in summary; altogether. •/All in all, it was a pleasant day’s cruise./ •/All in all, the pilot of an airplane must have many abilities and years of experience before he can he appointed./ Compare: ON THE WHOLE 1. •/Counting the balls on the green, we have six golf balls in all./

[all in good time]{adv. phr.} Some time soon, when the time is ripe for an event to take place. •/"I want to get married, Dad," Mike said. "All in good time, Son," answered his father./

[all in one piece]{adv. phr.} Safely; without damage or harm. •/John’s father was terribly concerned when his son was sent to war as a pilot, but he came home all in one piece./

[all kinds of]{adj. phr.}, {informal} Plenty of. •/People say that Mr. Fox has all kinds of money./ •/When Kathy was sick, she had all kinds of company./ Compare: GREAT DEAL.

[all manner of]{adj. phr.}, {formal} Many different kinds of; all sorts of. •/In a five-and-ten-cent store you can buy all manner of things./

[all of]{adj. phr.}, {informal} 1. At least the amount or number of; fully; no less than. •/It was all of ten o’clock before they finally started./ •/She must have paid all of $50 for that hat./ 2. Showing all the signs of; completely in. — Used with "a". •/The girls were all of a twitter before the dance./ •/Mother is all of a flutter because of the thunder and lightning./ •/The dog was all of a tremble with cold./

[all of a sudden] See: ALL AT ONCE 2.

[all out]{adv. phr.}, {informal} With all your strength, power, or determination; to the best of your ability; without holding back. — Usually used in the phrase "go all out". •/We went all out to win the game./ •/John went all out to finish the job and was very tired afterwards./ Compare: ALL THE WAY 2, FULL TILT, GO THE WHOLE HOG, GO TO ANY LENGTH, LEAVE A STONE UNTURNED, WITH MIGHT AND MAIN.

[all-out effort]{n.} A great and thorough effort at solving a given problem. •/The President is making an all-out effort to convince Congress to pass the pending bill on health care./

[all-out war]{n.} Total war including civilian casualties as opposed to a war that is limited only to armies. •/Hitler was waging an all-out war when he invaded Poland./

[all over]{adv. phr.} 1. In every part; everywhere. •/He has a fever and aches all over./ •/I have looked all over for my glasses./ Compare: FAR AND WIDE. 2. {informal} In every way; completely. •/She is her mother all over./ 3. {informal} Coming into very close physical contact, as during a violent fight; wrestling. •/Before I noticed what happened, he was all over me.