at (one)
1. Nagging or pestering one to do something. Used after "be." My mom is always at me about cleaning my room—it's so annoying. I've been at Tom to finish that report all week, so he had better be close by now! Why are you still at me about this? For the last time, I didn't take that money you had laying around!
2. Treating one in a critical and unkind manner. Used after "get." The boss seems to get at me no matter how well I do the job. Why do you get at him like that? He hasn't done anything wrong! Ed, take it easy on the intern—he's not going to learn anything if you just get at him over every little thing.
at one fell swoop
All at once, with a single decisive or powerful action. When the economy crashed, thousands lost their jobs, their homes, and their pensions at one fell swoop. At one fell swoop, the military junta arrested the prime minister, executed its enemies in parliament, and assumed total control of the country. The new law reduced crime, poverty, and famine at one fell swoop.
at the wheel
1. Literally, driving a vehicle (and thus sitting at the steering wheel). Don't worry, Katie's at the wheel, and she is very good at driving in the snow. I'm so excited to finally be at the wheel of my own car! Nothing makes me more nervous than envisioning my teen son at the wheel.
2. By extension, in charge; acting as the leader (of something). Jack is at the wheel, so I know they'll get this project done on time! With the company's president making a series of brilliant decisions, it seems they finally have a firm hand at the wheel. The coach has shown a lot of potential in his first season at the wheel.
be at (one)
To nag or pester one to do something. My mom is always at me about cleaning my room—it's so annoying. I've been at Tom to finish that report all week, so he had better be close by now! Why are you still at me about this? For the last time, I didn't take that money you had laying around!
nothing to sneeze at
Not something that should be ignored, dismissed, or treated with disdain; something that is not inconsequential. She never really had a chance of winning, but the amount of votes she managed to muster is truly nothing to sneeze at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to have won, but it's definitely nothing to sneeze at!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
at (someone)
being argumentative or contentious with someone. She is always at him about something. I wish you weren't at me all the time over finances.
at
Fig. nothing small or unimportant. It's not a lot of money, but it's nothing to sneeze at. Our house isn't a mansion, but it's nothing to sneeze at. A few thousand dollars is nothing to be sneezed at!
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.