at leisure
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adverb 1. In an unhurried manner; without haste or pressure: Doing something in a relaxed, comfortable way, taking as much time as needed. 2. At one's convenience; when it is suitable or convenient for oneself: Doing something when one has free time and is not busy.
Usage
The phrase "at leisure" describes the manner or timing of an action. It emphasizes a lack of rush, obligation, or fixed schedule. * It is commonly used to suggest that an activity can be done slowly and enjoyed, or that it can be done whenever one finds the time. * It often follows verbs like read, review, examine, browse, or discuss.
Examples
- Adverb (Manner):
- We strolled through the gardens at leisure, enjoying the afternoon sun.
- The artist worked at leisure on the portrait, paying attention to every detail.
- Adverb (Timing):
- Please review the document at your leisure and send me your feedback.
- You can return the books at your leisure; there's no strict deadline.
Advanced Usage
- "At one's leisure": This is a very common construction, where a possessive adjective (, , , , , ) is used. It personalizes the phrase to mean "when it is convenient for that specific person."
- The materials are available online for you to study at your leisure.
- The phrase can imply a state of being free from work or other demands.
- After retiring, he was finally at leisure to pursue his hobbies.
Variants and Related Words
- Leisurely (Adjective/Adverb): Done or acting in a relaxed, unhurried way. (e.g., , ).
- Leisure (Noun): Free time when one is not working or occupied. (e.g., ).
Synonyms
- Unhurriedly
- At one's convenience
- When convenient
- Without hurry
Related Phrases
- At your earliest convenience: A more formal phrase often used in business to request an action be done soon, but politely acknowledging the other person's schedule. (This implies more urgency than "at your leisure").
- In one's own time: Similar to "at one's leisure," meaning when one chooses to do something, often outside of formal requirements.
Adverb
- in an unhurried way or at one's convenience
- read the manual at your leisure
- he traveled leisurely