at it

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

I'm too voluminous—I'm a boiler-over, not a simmering stick-at-it.

From Project Gutenberg

They will not, however, have the more methodical stick-at-it quality of those whose fingers are found firm and stiff.

From Project Gutenberg

He likes to talk of empires and dynasties falling, and thousands of years gone by, and Good-God-look-at-it-all-now sort of thing.

From Project Gutenberg

There's so many fact'ries nowadays that Keep-at-it is the only sewin'-woman that makes a livin'.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• engaged
• hired
• occupied