at best

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at best and at most

in the most favorable view; in the most positive judgment; as the best one can say. At best we found their visit pleasantly short. The dinner was not at all pleasant. At best the food was not burned. At most there were three people in line ahead of me.

See also: best

at one's best

1. and at its best to the utmost; to the highest degree possible. This restaurant serves gourmet food at its best. The singer was at her best when she performed ballads.

2. in the best of health; displaying the most civilized behavior. (Often in the negative.) He's at his best after a good nap. I'm not at my best when I'm angry.

See also: best

at your best

showing your most positive characteristics It was kind of a bad day for me and I wasn't at my best.

See also: best

at best

in the most satisfactory conditions This truce could last only a short time at best and, at worst, would fall apart in a week.

Opposite of: at worst

See also: best

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There is an excess of refinement in the idea of disabling the people to continue in office men who had entitled themselves, in their opinion, to approbation and confidence; the advantages of which are at best speculative and equivocal, and are overbalanced by disadvantages far more certain and decisive. Federalist Papers Authored by Alexander Hamilton by Hamilton, Alexander View in context Louisa could not listen at all to his account of a conversation which he had just held with Dr Shirley: she was at a window, looking out for Captain Wentworth; and even Henrietta had at best only a divided attention to give, and seemed to have forgotten all the former doubt and solicitude of the negotiation. Persuasion by Austen, Jane View in context At every period of life, among boys or men, we are accepted when they are at leisure, and want to be amused, and at best we are tolerated rather than accepted. My Literary Passions by Howells,William Dean View in context			at a glance at a good clip at a loss at a loss for words at a moment's notice at a pinch at a premium at a price at a push at a rate of knots at a set time at a sitting at a snail's pace at a stretch at a time at all costs at all hours at all times at an early date at an end at any cost at any price at any rate at bay at beck and call at best at close range at convenience at cross purposes at cross-purposes at death's door at doorstep at each other's throats at earliest convenience at ease at elbow at every turn at expense at face value at fault at fingertips at first at first blush at first glance at first hand at first light at first sight at full blast at full speed at full strength at full stretch			at any rate at any rate at any rate at any rate at any rate at arm's length at arm's length at arm's length at arm's length at arm's length AT Attachment AT Attachment AT Attachment Packet Interface at back at back at back at back at bat at bat at bat at bat at bat At bats At bats with runners in scoring position at bay at bay at beck and call at beck and call at beck and call at beck and call at best at bottom at bottom at bottom AT Bus AT bus architecture At call At call At Change of Shift At City Shop for Repairs AT class at close quarters at close quarters at close quarters at close quarters at close quarters at close range at close range At cock AT command AT command AT command AT command AT Command Interpreter AT command set at convenience at convenience at convenience at cross purposes at cross purposes at cross-purposes

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