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Mikael Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Preposition AT (win AT tennis)

In the phrase: "Although I practise quite a lot, I never seem to win very often at tennis"

Could somebody explain me why the preposition AT is used? (Why not "IN" or another?)
  

Top answer

We win at everything- tennis, golf, bridge, business. The French do the same thing -they win at. It just is.

— Anonymous

  • We win at everything- tennis, golf, bridge, business.
  • The French do the same thing -they win at.
  • It just is.
  • C'est la vie.
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6 Answers
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We win at everything-tennis, golf, bridge, business. The French do the same thing-they win at. It just is. C'est la vie.
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at is used to connect an expression of success (or failure) to an activity or category of activity in which that success (or failure) is experienced. at may be thought of as when engaging in (a certain activity) or when directing efforts toward (a certain activity).

be good at sports
be poor at cards
win at tennis
lose at bridge
excel at wrest
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Hi Jim,
I gave up on this yesterday, but I think your "activity" key does the job.

I was wondering, why do you win at poker but lose in the stock market, and I couldn't seem to find the handle. You can invest in the poker game and you can invest in the market, so that's not it.
I think this same distinction applies to the school subject issue. Histor
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at X: engaged in doing X; busy doing X; participating in X

The subject who is AT something is more active than the subject who is IN something.

When I'm good at math, I'm good at doing math problems.
When I'm good in math, I'm good in the world of math; I'm good when I'm in math class?

But who knows?

CJ
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CalifJimat is used to connect an expression of success (or failure) to an activity or category of activity in which that success (or failure) is experienced. at may be thought of as when engaging in (a certain activity) or when directing efforts toward (a certain activity).

be good at sports
be poor at cards
win at tennis
l
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Hi,
A small extra comment.

"Although I practise quite a lot, I never seem to win very often at tennis"

The meaning of 'I never do something very often' is not 100% clear to me.

Perhaps there is a better way to express this. eg 'I rarely do something'?

Best wishes, Clive
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