Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all. what does "at all" mean? "Don't drink at all." Give me another example, please.
at all?
"She only had one glass of wine if any at all" = "She might have had one glass of wine, but most likely she had none"
"at all" would be translated into German as "wenn überhaupt"
"at all" would be translated into German as "wenn überhaupt"
It means, ‹Drink alcohol only in moderation, if you drink it at all.›
I'm always a little amused when ads for alcoholic beverages are accompanied by the disclaimer, "Drink responsibly." Of course only a pedant would dispute the fact that ‹if at all› is implied, but still you could argue peevishly that they are enjoining *everyone* to drink. :)
I'm always a little amused when ads for alcoholic beverages are accompanied by the disclaimer, "Drink responsibly." Of course only a pedant would dispute the fact that ‹if at all› is implied, but still you could argue peevishly that they are enjoining *everyone* to drink. :)
Here's an interesting example I found with Google:
Benign thyroid nodules grow slowly if at all.
This means that benign thyroid nodules may or may not grow but if they do grow they grow slowly.
Benign thyroid nodules grow slowly if at all.
This means that benign thyroid nodules may or may not grow but if they do grow they grow slowly.
Another Google example:
Blogging will be light, if at all, next week.
This is rather awkwardly phrased but the blogger means that he expects to do very little blogging next week and that his readers should not be surprised if he does not do any blogging next week.
I was surprised how hard I had to work at this to avoid using the term "at all" in my explanation.
Blogging will be light, if at all, next week.
This is rather awkwardly phrased but the blogger means that he expects to do very little blogging next week and that his readers should not be surprised if he does not do any blogging next week.
I was surprised how hard I had to work at this to avoid using the term "at all" in my explanation.