at someone's Idiom, Proverb
be at someone's beck and call
to always be ready to do what someone wants: "As the office junior, she was at his beck and call all day."
throw oneself at someone's feet|feet|foot|throw
v. phr. To make a public display of serving, loving, or worshipping someone.
When Arthur became king, almost all of the nobles threw themselves at his feet and promised to obey and serve him. When the new girl entered school, several boys threw themselves at her feet.
throw oneself at someone's head|fling oneself at s
v. phr.,
informal To try hard and openly to make a person love you.
She threw herself at his head, but he was interested in another girl. Compare: AT ONE'S FEET.
at someone's
at someone's In addition to idioms beginning with
at someone's, also see idioms beginning with
at one's.
at someone's beck and call
at someone's beck and call Required to comply with someone's requests or commands, as in
The boss expects the entire staff to be at his beck and call. The noun
beck, now obsolete except in this idiom, meant “a gesture or signal of command, such as a nod or hand movement,” whereas
call signifies “a vocal summons.” Also see
dance attendance on.
at someone's elbow
at someone's elbow Immediately beside someone, close by, as in
The apprentice was constantly at the master's elbow. Why this idiom focuses on the elbow rather than the arm, shoulder, or some other body part is not known. Moreover, it can mean either that someone is so nearby as to constitute a nuisance or in order to readily provide assistance. Either can be meant in the example above. [Mid-1500s]
at someone's feet, be
at someone's feet, be Also,
sit at someone's feet. Be enchanted or fascinated by someone, as in
Dozens of boys are at her feet, or
Bill sat at his mentor's feet for nearly three years, but he gradually became disillusioned and left the university. [Early 1700s] For a quite different meaning, see
under one's feet.
at someone's heels
at someone's heels Also,
on someone's heels. Immediately behind, in close pursuit. This idiom is used both literally, as in
Jean's dog was always at her heels, and figuratively, as in
Although his company dominated the technology, he always felt that his competitors were on his heels. This idiom appeared in the 14th-century romance
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The expression is sometimes intensified as
hard on someone's heels or
hot on someone's heels. Also see
on the heels of.
at someone's mercy
at someone's mercy see
at the mercy of.
at someone's request
at someone's request On being asked to do something, as in
At my request they'll move us to another room, or
I'm speaking at his request. [1300s] Also see
by request.
at someone's service
at someone's service Ready to help someone, at someone's disposal, as in
The tour guide said he was at our service for the rest of the afternoon. [Second half of 1600s]
eat someone's ass out
eat someone's ass out Rebuke or scold harshly, as in
Watch it or the sergeant will eat your ass out. This expression became wide-spread especially in the armed forces. [Vulgar slang; c. 1940]
eat someone's lunch
eat someone's lunch see under
eat someone alive.
lay at someone's door
lay at someone's door Impute or lay the blame on someone; make someone responsible for something (usually discreditable). For example,
That this law failed to pass can be laid at your door, Senator. [c. 1700]
put at someone's disposal
put at someone's disposal Allow one to use, as in
They put their car at our disposal for our entire stay. This idiom employs
disposal in the sense of “the liberty or power to use something,” a usage dating from the early-1600s.
at someone's
In accession to idioms alpha with at someone's, additionally see idioms alpha with at one's.