at it

Related to at it: Have at it

at it

1. Involved in an action, activity, or pursuit vigorously, exhaustively, or determinedly. I studied really hard for this test; I was at it all night. I wish those dogs would quit barking, they've been at it since the sun came up!
2. slang Engaging in sex. I can always hear when the neighbors are at it. It's really embarrassing!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at it

Vigorously pursuing an activity, especially a fight, but also sex or some other activity. For example, Whenever they play bridge they really go at it (fight), or The new job keeps Tom at it day and night (works hard), or In the spring the dogs are always at it (sex). Shakespeare used this seemingly modern idiom for "fighting" in Troilus and Cressida (5:3): "They are at it, hark!" [Late 1500s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

at it

engaged in some activity, typically a reprehensible one.
1993 G. F. Newman Law & Order Oh, don't take me for a complete idiot, Jack. I know you're at it.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

at it

Informal
Engaged in verbal or physical conflict; arguing or fighting: The neighbors are at it again.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • in pursuit of
  • in pursuit of (someone or something)
  • be in pursuit
  • pursuit
  • be in pursuit of (someone or something)
  • beat the bushes
  • beat the bushes (for someone or something)
  • beat the bushes for
  • be beating the bushes
  • be beating the bushes (for someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
It was like a car crash: you couldn't look at it and you couldn't look away.
Balanchine: through the eyes of choreographers now
I had a couple beers and was feeling sassy, so I took a deck and had a go at it. Ever seen a drunk, fat man try to skateboard for the first time?
Dillinger four
You could look at it from a gender viewpoint as well, because the SQUID disks tend to highlight male fantasies, not female ones.
Reality bytes
The National Demolition Association is ushering in some major changes at its 32nd annual gathering, including the formal announcement of its name change from the National Association of Demolition Contractors (NADC) and the unveiling of its new logo.
Viva Las Vegas: the construction, demolition and C&D recycling industries gear up for this spring's conventions
BERNANKE: The unemployment rate by itself is a rather poor indicator of whether the economy is at its potential.
The Fed's new deep bench: several new Federal Reserve policymakers are making surprisingly important contributions to the inside debate. TIE interviews one of the leaders, Governor Ben Bernanke. (United States)
History doesn't give us many examples of an idea being played out benignly and at its best.
The Thin Thread of Conversation: An Interview with Mary Daly
At its worst, it's that paternalism: "I don't need it, but look at all these childish people around me.
Pulling our own strings: philosopher Daniel Dennett on determinism, human "choice machines," and how evolution generates free will
But church, at its best, can bring people together the way no other institution can.
Why get up and go to Mass?
None of them has at its core a sense of the promise and disappointment of every life.
Missed moorings - American novelists lose touch
Only a few years ago, Bill Gates was the poster boy for American entrepreneurialism at its finest, and Microsoft as the upstart David to IBM's Goliath.
What's your company's reputation worth?
I see them up on stage with that kind of beautiful exuberance, and I'm like, `Oh, that is so what I could feel like.' In return, I teach them--`Oh, that's normal for a record company to do, blah blah blah' or `That's good, just move the chorus here.' It's reciprocity at its finest, because it's trading of wisdoms and trading of energies.
K.D. A woman in love
So it should come as no surprise to find that they're waiting for us at its end--its completion, its fullfillment, perhaps is absolescence--as well.
Gerhard Richter: Betty
The years when the Austin music scene was at its peak, I was the guy who wouldn't go see a band because I would be showing a film at the local society.
What, me work?