home industries going for the boys who were fighting at the front . on the front—1. on the foremost or most important side of smth.: The label on the front of the packet lists the actual net weight. 2. = at the front 2. While the Austrian troops were falling back in collapse, German formations on the front re- treated with discipline. at the heart of something • in the heart of some- thing at the heart of something—at the basis of smth.: The two- stage module is at the heart of the plans to land two men on the moon. in the heart of something—in the central part of smth.: The Verbas, another Bosnian river, rises in the heart of the coun- try. at the least • in the least at the least—(also: at least) 1. at all events; anyway: The process looks rather laborious but at the least it is not danger- ous. 2. not less than: At the least a dozen ideas were considered and rejected. in the least—(negat.) to the smallest degree: So long as the noise is satisfactory the musical quality does not trouble him in the least . at the market • in the market • on the market at the market—1. offered for sale: The fact that the wheat from the new crops appeared at the market , allowed to bring down its deficit. 2. (Stock Exchange) at the current market price: I never buy at the market . My orders are always a point or two under the market price. in the market—1. = at the market 1: A substance from New York has lately made its appearance in the market under the name of butterine. 2. (for) trying to obtain smth. specified: Not everybody watching the advertisement is in the market for our products. on the market— = at the market 1: This vaccine won’t be on the market for another six months. at the maximum • to the maximum at the maximum—is used of the largest possible quantity: The regiment represents around 500 men at the maximum . to the maximum—to the greatest degree possible: We must exploit tactical surprise to the maximum . at the minimum • to the minimum at the minimum —1. at least the amount or number specified: They could accommodate 100 booths, 50 at the minimum . 2. at the very least: At the minimum we would be under pres- sure to reveal the names. to the minimum—to the smallest degree possible: Delay in the hearing of cases should be reduced to the minimum . at the outside • on the outside at the outside—as the highest possible figure: This woman is young, I suppose at the outside not thirty. on the outside—1. on the outer surface: Make sure the con- tents are clearly labeled on the outside . 2. (sl.) out of prison: The funny thing is—on the outside , I was an honest man. I had to come to prison to be a crook. at the ready • in readiness at the ready—(of a weapon) in readiness for immediate use: He stalked along, one hand swinging free, the other with his machete held at the ready . in readiness—1. in a ready or prepared state: Stacks of “no parking” cones were dotted in readiness round the village. 2. ready or prepared to do smth.: The admiral gave orders for the troops to be in readiness to land. at the rise • on the rise at the rise— at the start of smth.; at an early stage in smth.: The book portrays American cities at the rise of industrialism. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase at rise—(Theater) when the rising curtain discloses a scene: At rise we see an interview room with a desk and simple furnishings. on the rise1. on the increase: The stealing of intellectual property is on the rise . 2. (of prices) going up: Now, with an improving economy, gas prices are on the rise . at the same time • in the same time at the same time—1. in addition; as well: The method re- duced the cost of processing information and at the same time accelerated the speed of producing data. 2. at the same mo- ment; simultaneously: The same stock may be quoted at the same time in the exchange markets of distant places. 3. nev- ertheless (is used to express reservation): That’s all fine and well, but at the same time it seems increasingly unlikely that we will achieve these goals. in the same time—taking the same amount of time: This explains why a planet travels from point A to point B in the same time that it takes to cover the much shorter span between C and D. at the side of someone • on the side of someone at the side of someone —(coll.) compared with another person: She is quite clever at the side of other girls. on the side of someone—giving support to smb. in a conflict, etc.: Despite Callas’ harsh nature, she was always on the side of her students. at the side of something • on the side of some- thing at the side of something—situated or placed beside smth.: He fancied he heard the tramp of a troop of horse at the side of the wood. on the side of something—1. = at the side of something: As I was driving I passed the car on the side of the road again. This time the lights were not on. 2. on the side surface of smth.: The Stock Exchange waiter strikes three strokes with a mallet on the side of a rostrum before making formal declaration. 3. supporting smth.; in favor of smth.: Normally, and as a whole, human law is on the side of divine order. at the sight of someone • in the sight of someone at the sight of someone—on seeing a person: Does running away at the sight of the police give officers reason enough to stop and search you on the street? in the sight of someone—1. near enough to be seen by a per- son: He was brutally killed in the sight of the townspeople. 2. in a person’s opinion; as regarded by smb.: In the sight of the world, they were a happily married couple. at the start • to start with at the start—(also: at the beginning ) initially; at first: At the start he was merely an incompetent abroad, but being a man of intelligence he adapted quickly. to start with —(also: to begin with) 1. as a first consideration; most importantly: Kurosawa’s tale wasn’t all that original to start with —it was lifted from Hammet’s Red Harvest. 2. = at the start: To start with , she was both advising customers and working on the counter but she quickly progressed to concen- trate on providing advice. at the time of something • in the time of some- thing at the time of something—at the particular point of time: I was in India at the time of my father’s death. – 25 – at the time of something