at the ready
Related to at the ready: catch up, follow suit, rub off, rest on, in the first place, the likes of, turn up
at the ready
Available for use at any time. My sister could go into labor any day now, so I have my phone constantly at the ready. The volunteers descended on the garden, their shovels at the ready.
See also: ready
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
at the ready
Available for immediate use, as in Umbrellas at the ready, we were prepared to brave the storm. This idiom was originally a military term in which the ready denoted the position of a firearm prepared to be raised and aimed or fired. [First half of 1800s]
See also: ready
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
at the ˈready
prepared for immediate action or use: Cameras and microphones at the ready, they waited for the new President to appear.See also: ready
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
at the ready
Available for immediate use: soldiers with machine guns at the ready; students with notebooks at the ready.
See also: ready
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- all the time
- be on (one's) back
- be on somebody's back
- again and again
- the final say
- the final word
- your/the last/final word
- be a bed of nails
- have the final say
- have the final word