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- Anno Domini - used to mark time that comes after the commonly accepted beginning of the Christian era
eg. The ancient city was founded in 125 AD.
AGM
- Annual General Meeting - the annual meeting of an organization
eg. My sister attended the AGM of the condominium owners last night.
AI
- Artificial Intelligence - used for robots etc
eg. Several professors at our university have been researching AI for many years now.
AIDS
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome - a disease of the immune system
eg. Recently the number of AIDS patients has been increasing rapidly in many countries.
AM
- Amplitude Modulation - a type of radio frequency
eg. We don't listen to AM radio much because we don't like the songs that they play.
AOB
- Any Other Business - used in meetings etc
eg. The organizer of the meeting wrote AOB at the bottom of the meeting information sheet.
AOK
- great, doing well
eg. He said that he was feeling AOK even after the truck had hit him.
APB
- All Point's Bulletin - used by the police when looking for a criminal
eg. The police put out an APB on the men who had robbed the bank.
ASAP
- As Soon As Possible
eg. Please finish the first draft of the letter and give it to me ASAP.
AWOL
- Absent Without Leave - often used in the military
eg. The military police were searching the area for the soldier who had gone AWOL.
a hot potato
- a situation likely to cause trouble to the person handling it
eg. The issue of the non-union workers is a real hot potato that we must deal with.
about to do something
- on the point of doing something
eg. She was about to leave when the phone rang.
about time
- something that should have happened earlier
eg. It is about time that you returned that book to me.
absent-minded
- forgetful
eg. My grandfather is very absent-minded and often forgets his key.
according to Hoyle
- strictly by the rules, the usual and correct way to do something
eg. According to Hoyle you are not allowed to enter this room but if nobody is here I think it will be okay.
across the board
- including everyone or everything
eg. The computer company decided to give the workers an across-the-board increase in their salary.
add up
- seem consistent or reasonable
eg. The things that he said about his boss don`t really add up.
after one`s own heart
- well-liked for agreeing with one`s own feelings, interests and ideas
eg. My new boss loves to go fishing every weekend. He is a man after my own heart.
ahead of time
- early
eg. We started the meeting ahead of time so we could go home early.
air one`s dirty laundry (linen) in public
- make public something embarrassing that should be kept secret
eg. The dinner party became uncomfortable when the host began to air his colleagues' dirty laundry in public.
air one`s dirty linen in public
- tell about one`s private quarrels or problems where others can hear
eg. His personal problems are nobody else`s business and he doesn`t like his wife to air his dirty linen in public when they go out with friends.
all along
- all the time
eg. I knew all along that he would not get the promotion.
all at once
- suddenly, without warning
eg. All at once the fire alarm rang so we had to leave the building.
all day long
- the whole day
eg. She has been sitting and waiting for the mail to arrive all day long.
all ears
- eager to listen to someone
eg. Okay, I`m all ears, please tell me about the party.
all eyes
- watching very closely, wide-eyed with surprise
eg. He is all eyes when he goes to a basketball game.
all in all
- in summary, after considering everything
eg. We had a few problems but all in all the meeting was successful.
all in one
- combined
eg. I was able to use my car for travelling and sleeping all in one.
all of a sudden
- suddenly, without advance warning
eg. All of a sudden it became cloudy and began to rain.
all right
- okay, satisfactory
eg. She said that it would be all right for me to bring my friend to the party.
all rolled up in one
- combined
eg. His brother is president and vice-president all rolled up in one.
all the time
- continually
eg. She asks for money all the time but I don`t like to give it to her.
alley cat
- stray cat
eg. He began to feed the alley cat and now it comes to his house every day.
an arm and a leg
- (cost) a large amount of money
eg. His new car must have cost him an arm and a leg.
ante up
- pay, produce a necessary amount of money
eg. I had to ante up a lot of money to get my car fixed.
apple of one`s eye
- one`s favorite
eg. His youngest daughter is the apple of his eye.
arm and a leg
- pay a very high price for something that isn't worth it
eg. My father paid an arm and a leg for his car but he really enjoys driving it.
armed to the teeth
- fully armed, having many weapons
eg. The robbers were armed to the teeth when they robbed the bank.
as a rule
- usually, as a habit
eg. As a rule I usually get up at 7:00 AM every morning.
as far as
- to the extent or degree that
eg. As far as I know he will be here in a few minutes.
as long as
- provided that, on condition that
eg. As long as you promise to be careful you can borrow my car.
as usual
- most of the time, as is the custom
eg. As usual, she forgot to bring her book to class.
as well as
- in addition to
eg. Please bring your swimming suit as well as your towel.
as yet
- until now, up to the present
eg. As yet, she has not told me about her plans to leave the company.
ask for trouble
- behave in a way that trouble is likely
eg. He is asking for trouble if he misses another class.
asleep at the switch
- not alert to an opportunity
eg. I think he was asleep at the switch. He didn`t even know that the job was available so he never applied for it.
at a loss
- sell something and lose money
eg. We were forced to sell the computers at a big loss.
at all costs
- at any expense of time, effort or money
eg. He plans to go to school at all costs.
at cross purposes
- have opposite ways to do something, opposing goals
eg. They are at cross purposes and are always arguing about what to do.
at death's door
- very near death
eg. The Prime Minister was at death's door after suffering a serious stroke.
at fault
- be responsible or to blame for something
eg. The truck driver was at fault in the terrible accident.
at first
- at the beginning
eg. At first she didn`t want to go to a movie but later she changed her mind.
at first blush
- when first seen, without careful study
eg. At first blush he seemed like a good worker but later we had many problems with him.
at hand
- easy to reach, nearby
eg. I couldn't find any tools near at hand so I was unable to fix the stove.
at heart
- basically, fundamentally
eg. She is a very nice person at heart although many people dislike her.
at home
- in one`s house
eg. I`m sorry but I left my money at home. Can you lend me some money?
at last
- finally, after a long time
eg. I was waiting all morning for her call but at last it came.
at loggerheads
- having a quarrel, opposing each other
eg. We have been at loggerheads over their plans to build a new office complex.
at odds
- in disagreement
eg. He has been at odds with his boss over the new sales territory.
at one time
- at a time in the past
eg. At one time the man had no money but now he is very rich.
at one with someone
- share the same view as someone
eg. The other members of the committee are at one with me over my decision to fire the lazy worker.
at or on the tip of one`s tongue
- at the point of being said, almost remembered
eg. My former teacher's name is on the tip of my tongue and I will soon remember it.
at sixes and sevens
- in a state of confusion
eg. Everyone was at sixes and sevens after the announcement that the company was going out of business.
at someone`s beck and call
- always ready to serve somebody
eg. His eldest daughter is always at his beck and call when he spends an evening at home.
at the end of one`s rope
- at the limit of one`s ability to cope
eg. I am at the end of my rope about what to do about my current situation at work.
at the top of one`s lungs
- as loud as one can, very loudly
eg. I yelled at the top of my lungs to get the attention of the man.
at the drop of a hat
- without waiting, immediately, promptly
eg. He will stop working and help you at the drop of a hat if you ask him politely.
attend to someone
- take care or deal with someone
eg. The doctor attended to the other patient before he got to my mother.
at/on one`s heels
- close behind, as a constant follower or companion
eg. The large car was on my heels during my drive into town.
Last Update: 2004/01/02
Ad Placement
By NarrowCast Media... Get Noticed!