“at+one’s+名词”的常见搭配　　

■湖南  陈根花　　

at one’s best 处于最佳状态　　

Beer is at its best when it is cool. 冷啤酒味道最好。　　

I wasn’t feeling at my best at the party so I didn’t enjoy it. 聚会上我身体不太舒服，所以兴致不高。　　

at one’s convenience 在方便的时候　　

You may pay me at your convenience. 你可以在方便时付款给我。　　

I’d like to have a talk with him at his convenience. 我想在他方便的时候同他谈一次。　　

at one’s elbow 在附近，在左右　　

He keeps the book always at his elbow. 他手边总是备有这本书。　　

Jim was hovering at her elbow, trying to say something. 吉姆在她身边转来转去，想说些什么。　　

at one’s heels 紧跟在……后面　　

The thief ran off with an angry crowd at his heels. 那小偷在前面跑，一群愤怒的人在后面紧追。　　

Pacing up and down at the heels of the animals was farmer Boldwood himself. 在牲畜后面走来走去的是牧民博尔德伍德自己。　　

【注】有时也说on one’s heels。如：　　

On the heels of the drought came a new disaster. 继干旱之后又发生新的灾害。　　

at one’s leisure 有空时，方便时　　

Please do it at your leisure. 请你在有空时做一下。　　

Please look through the papers at your leisure. 有空烦请过目这些文件。　　

at one’s peril （尤用于告诫某人勿做某事）自担风险　　

The bicycle has no brakes—you ride it at your peril. 这辆自行车没闸——你要骑可太危险了。　　

We soon discovered that you disobeyed Clara at your peril. 我们很快就发现，你不听克莱拉的话而使自己处于危险的境地。　　

【注】该短语与at the peril of（冒……的危险）意思不同。如：　　

You do it at the peril of your life. 你做那件事要冒生命的危险。　　

at one’s service 听凭某人使用，听凭某人吩咐　　

My car is at your service. 我的汽车随你使用。　　

If you need advice, I’m at your service. 如果你需要参考意见，我随时可以帮忙。　　

at one’s wits’ end 智穷计尽，不知所措，一筹莫展(www.yygrammar.com)　

This physician seemed to be at his wits’ end. 这位医生似乎束手无策了。　　

I’m at my wits’ end worrying about how to pay the bills. 怎样才能付清这些账，我完全没有主意。