at it

Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

“I just looked at it and thought, ’I want to put down roots; I want to have a family,’” she shared.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

Firefighters were eventually forced to melt it down after fans attempted to thaw the sculpture with blowtorches and chip away at it with sledgehammers.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

However you look at it, if the people responsible for greenlighting “Michael” were at all concerned about the audience rejecting the movie on principle, any kind of principle, it would not have been made.

From Salon • May 14, 2026

And get a glimpse of dragons, superheroes, airbenders and pro athletes while you’re at it.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

It was heavy work even with all hands at it.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Related Words

• active
• unavailable
• working