Prepositional Phrases Flashcards
At (a) high speed
بسرعة عالية
A car is moving at a high speed on the road.
At/by one’s side
At one’s side: Generally indicates physical proximity or being close for support or assistance.
Example: “The loyal dog was always at his side, offering comfort.”
By one’s side: Similar to “at one’s side,” but it can also convey a more metaphorical or emotional support.
Example: “Even in difficult times, she stood by his side, providing unwavering encouragement.”
At/on sight
At Sight:
“He paid for the item at sight, without any hesitation.”
“The artist recognized the forger’s work at sight.”
On Sight:
“The security guards were instructed to apprehend the intruder on sight.”
“The manager fired the employee on sight after discovering the policy violation.”
In both cases, the expressions emphasize immediacy or prompt action based on visual recognition. “At sight” is often used in contexts where quick decisions or reactions are made upon seeing something, and “on sight” is commonly associated with immediate responses to visual identification or detection.
At a disadvantage
Being in an unfavorable or inferior position compared to others. It implies a lack of advantage or a challenging situation.
“Without proper training, the new employee felt at a disadvantage compared to his experienced colleagues.
Being unfamiliar with the local language put us at a disadvantage while navigating through the foreign city.”
At a discount
selling or buying something for a price that is lower than its usual or listed value.
The store is offering these products at a discount for the holiday season, allowing customers to purchase them at a lower price than usual
At a distance
being far away from something or someone, maintaining a measurable space between them.
The mountain peak was visible at a distance, covered in a blanket of snow
To avoid disturbing the wildlife, the photographer captured the breathtaking scene at a distance using a powerful zoom lens.
At a glance
quick or brief look
I could tell, at a glance, that the document was well-organized and easy to understand
At a guess
making an educated guess or providing an approximate response
I’d say, at a guess, there were about fifty people at the party.
at a loss
being unable to understand or cope with a situation, often resulting in confusion or a lack of knowledge
When asked about the missing documents, he was at a loss for words and couldn’t provide an explanation.”
“After the unexpected turn of events, she found herself at a loss regarding how to proceed with the project.”
“The complex instructions left the students at a loss, prompting them to seek clarification from the teacher.”
At the mercy of
being completely dependent on someone/sth
As a hostage, she found herself at the mercy of her captors, uncertain of her fate.
At odds with
being in conflict or disagreement with something or someone.
Her opinion was at odds with the majority, leading to a heated debate during the meeting
The artist’s vision for the project was at odds with the client’s expectations, causing tension in their collaboration
At any rate
He might be late, or he might not come at all. At any rate, we should be prepared for the meeting without him.
At face value
expression that means accepting something just as it appears initially, without deeper analysis or consideration of potential hidden meanings.
Her apology, at face value, appeared sincere, but some doubted its authenticity.
At your leisure
something can be done whenever you have the time or when it’s convenient for you
You can review the report at your leisure; there’s no rush to complete it today
Feel free to join the meeting at your leisure; we’ll be discussing the project updates
At the thought of
emotional or psychological response to a particular idea or concept
She shivered at the thought of walking alone in the dark alley
At the thought of failing the exam, he felt a knot in his stomach
A smile crossed her face at the thought of spending the weekend with her family
At random
She picked a book from the shelf at random, not knowing what to expect.”
“The survey participants were chosen at random to ensure a representative sample of the population.”
By heart
know something thoroughly or to have memorized it
She recited the poem by heart, flawlessly remembering every line.
After practicing the song repeatedly, he knew the lyrics by heart and could sing it without looking at the notes
By all accounts
expression used to indicate that something is generally accepted or acknowledged based on various reports or opinions
By all accounts, the new restaurant has received positive reviews for its innovative menu and excellent service
She is, by all accounts, a talented and dedicated professional, admired by both colleagues and clients
By dint of
As a result of effort, determination, or strength
She succeeded in her career by dint of hard work and dedication
The team won the championship by dint of their exceptional teamwork and skill
By far
something is greatly or significantly better, larger, or more extensive than others
She is, by far, the most talented musician in the orchestra
Their team won, by far, the most matches in the competition
By surprise
The sudden rainstorm took us all by surprise, as there were no weather forecasts predicting rain that day.
By no means
something is absolutely not the case or that there is no way a particular statement is true.
I am, by no means, suggesting that the task is easy; it requires a lot of effort and dedication.
By appointment
The museum offers guided tours by appointment, allowing visitors to explore the exhibits with a knowledgeable guide
To beat around/about the bush
لف ودوران
To beat around the bush means to avoid addressing a topic directly or to speak indirectly without getting to the main point
Example: Instead of answering the question directly, he kept beating around the bush by talking about unrelated topics.
