at the most
34
2.0
- idiom
:
como máximo
- Terry, all I need from you is one day at the most.
I said Miko, this will be one or two years at the most.
- I said Miko, this will be one or two years at the most.
- We think that one of these, or two at the most can answer all our questions and they can't.
- So he can only really stay awake for two hours, two to three hours at the most, before he needs his morning nap.
- The only buy five books at the most each month.
- I mean, the whole thing and the and the and the fact that we didn't have money, we like pretty much had two at the most three cars.
Examples
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Two weeks at the most.
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Thirty minutes at the most.
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We have an hour to get out of here at the most.
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Oh, an hour or two at the most.
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Maybe a week at the most.
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You may not need it now, but in a week, two at the most, you will.
Fiction book (2002) -
- Fifteen hours at the most.
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At the most, a few days.
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So he can only really stay awake for two hours, two to three hours at the most, before he needs his morning nap.
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We should arrive in thirty minutes, at the most.
Synonyms
68
1.3
No more than a set number or amount
Antonyms
How Much
34
2.0
68
1.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
at + the + most
The phrase 'at the most' transparently combines 'at' (marking a limit) with 'the most' (the highest amount), so the overall meaning 'no more than' is directly derivable from the constituents. This limitative construction has clear cross-linguistic parallels (e.g. French 'au plus', Spanish 'como mucho'), making it readily comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows the words.
Etymology
At the most gives the image of a cup or box with a top line showing the highest amount: you are at that line and no higher—the most you can have. So, it means 'not more than this'.