Idiom Breakdown

at all

/[əˈɾoːɫ] / [æˈɾɔɫ] / [əˈtʰoːɫ] / [æˈɾɑ̈ɫ] / [ætˈoːɫ] / [əˈɾɑ̈ɫ] / [əˈɾɔɫ]/

English negative polarity items

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Definition

Indicating degree, quantity or frequency greater than zero: to the slightest degree, in any way, at any time or in any circumstance.

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"You mustn't speak to her at all."
"Can you see anyone at all?"
"Are you at all bothered by the noise?"
"Let me know if you are at all concerned."
"Were you angry that he was laughing too hard, or that he was laughing at all?"
"My speech didn't seem to go down well at all."
"I'm glad that she didn't stay long, but sorry that she came at all."
"This is the only one of the issues for which I am at all responsible."
"If it’s at all possible, I'll try and do it."
"Here's neither buſh, nor ſhrub to beare off any weather at all: and another Storme brewing, I heare it ſing ith' winde: yond ſame blacke cloud, yond huge one, lookes like a foule bumbard that would ſhed his licquor: if it ſhould thunder, as it did before, I know not where to hide my head: yond ſame cloud cannot chooſe but fall by paile-fuls."
"He did not seem to think that he at all deserved a medal from the Humane and Magnanimous Societies."
"The judge, by the way, was the King; and as he wore his crown over the wig, (look at the frontispiece if you want to see how he did it), he did not look at all comfortable, and it was certainly not becoming."
"After a while he descended the steps into the road again and he stood there and looked all about him and listened for any sound at all but there was nothing."

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