At sword’s point
also, at swords’ points. antagonistic, hostile, as in father and son were at swords’ points. dating from the days when swords were used to settle quarrels, the idiom today generally signifies only a bitter quarrel.
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- At that
(used to indicate a person, thing, idea, state, event, time, remark, etc., as pointed out or present, mentioned before, supposed to be understood, or by way of emphasis): that is her mother. after that we saw each other. (used to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., already mentioned, referring to the one […]
- At that point
also, at that point in time. then, as in at that point we had finished the first batch of cookies and begun the second. this phrase refers to a particular time when an event or circ-mstance occurred, as opposed to “now” (see at this point). [ second half of 1900s ]
- At that stage
see: at this stage
- At that rate
see: at this rate
- At the crossroads
also, at a crossroads. at a point of decision or a critical juncture, as in because of the proposed merger, the company is standing at the crossroads. this phrase, based on the importance accorded to the intersection of two roads since ancient times, has also been used figuratively just about as long. in the 1500s […]