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Mr. Tom Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary

Idiom "at the ready"

Hi

If I am not mistaken, I read this idiom in Mickey Spillane' novel. I want to know if it is still alive and kicking.

Are these sentences natural?

Keep your gun at the ready.

The cameras were at the ready.

The soldiers were poised, their guns at the ready.

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

Yes, they are OK.

— Clive

  • Yes, they are OK.
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3 Answers
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In the US (Clive is Canadian) you would almost never hear the phrase "at the ready." It's dated and would only be used for effect, or when writing in a first-half-of-the-20th-century context. However, the phrase "at ready" is sometimes heard today. Today you might hear:

Keep your gun (at) ready.

The cameras were (at) ready.

The soldiers were poised, their guns (at) re
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AnonymousIn the US (Clive is Canadian) you would almost never hear the phrase "at the ready." It's dated and would only be used for effect, or when writing in a first-half-of-the-20th-century context. However, the phrase "at ready" is sometimes heard today. Today you might hear:Keep your gun (at) ready.The cameras were (at) ready.The soldiers were poised, their guns (at)
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