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[at anchor]{adj. phr.} Held by an anchor from floating away; anchored. •/The ship rode at anchor in the harbor./

[at any rate]{adv. phr.} In any case; anyhow. •/It isn’t much of a car, but at any rate it was not expensive./ Compare: AT LEAST(2), IN ANY CASE.

[at a premium]{adv. phr.} At a high price due to special circumstances. •/When his father died, Fred flew to Europe at a premium because he had no chance to buy a less expensive ticket./

[at arm’s length] See: KEEP AT A DISTANCE or KEEP AT ARM’S LENGTH.

[at a set time]{prep. phr.} At a particular, pre-specified time. •/Do we have to eat in this hotel at a set time, or may we come down whenever we want?/

[at a snail’s pace] See: SNAIL’S PACE.

[at a straw] See: GRASP AT STRAWS.

[at a stroke] See: AT A BLOW or AT A STROKE.

[at a time]{adv. phr.} At once; at one time; in one group or unit; together. •/He checked them off one at a time as they came in./ •/He ran up the steps two at a time./ See: EVERY OTHER. •/They showed up for class three and four at a time./

[at bay]{adv.} or {adj. phr.} In a place where you can no longer run away; unable to go back farther; forced to stand and fight, or face an enemy; cornered. •/The dog ran the rat into a corner, and there the rat turned at bay./ •/The police chased the thief to a roof, where they held him at bay until more policemen came to help./ Compare: BRING TO BAY.

[at best] or [at the best] {adv. phr.} 1. Under the best conditions; as the best possibility. •/A coal miner’s job is dirty and dangerous at best./ •/We can’t get to New York before ten o’clock at best./ Compare: AT MOST. Contrast: AT WORST. 2. In the most favorable way of looking at something; even saying the best about the thing. * The /treasurer had at best been careless with the club’s money, but most people thought he had been dishonest./

[at both ends] See: BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS.

[at call]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. Ready or nearby for use, help, or service; on request. •/Thousands of auto insurance agents all over the country are at the insured person’s call, wherever he may travel./ 2. At the word of command; at an order or signal. •/The dog was trained to come at call./

[at close range]{adv. phr.} Close by; in proximity. •/The police officer fired at the fleeing murder suspect at close range./

[at cross purposes]{adv. phr.} With opposing meanings or aims; with opposing effect or result; with aims which hinder or get in each other’s way. •/Tom’s parents acted at cross purposes in advising him; his father wanted him to become a doctor; but his mother wanted him to become a minister./

[at death’s door]{adj.} or {adv. phr.} Very near death; dying. •/He seemed to be at death’s door from his illness./

[at each other’s throats]{prep. phr.} Always arguing and quarreling. •/Joan and Harry have been at each other’s throats so long that they have forgotten how much they used to love one another./

[at ease] or [at one’s ease] {adj.} or {adv. phr.} 1. In comfort; without pain or bother. •/You can’t feel at ease with a toothache./ 2. or [at one’s ease] Comfortable in one’s mind; relaxed, not troubled. — Often used in the phrase "put at ease" or "put at one’s ease." •/We put Mary at her ease during the thunderstorm by reading her stories./ Compare: AT HOME(2). Contrast: ILL AT EASE, ON EDGE. 3. Standing with your right foot in place and without talking in military ranks. •/The sergeant gave his men the command "At ease!"/ Compare: PARADE REST.