sentences, sometimes in the form "one bit". •/"Won’t your father be angry?""No, he won’t care a bit."/ •/Helen feels like crying, but I’ll besurprised if she shows it one bit./ — Sometimes used with "little" foremphasis, also in the emphatic form "the least bit". •/"Wasn’t Bob even alittle bit sorry he forgot his date?" "No, Bob wasn’t the least bit sorry."/Syn.: A LITTLE. Compare: A FEW. Contrast: A LOT.

[about face]{n.} A sudden change of course or a decision opposite towhat was decided earlier. •/Her decision to become an actress instead of adentist was an about face from her original plans./

[about one’s ears] or [around one’s ears] {adv. phr.} To or intocomplete collapse, defeat, or ruin; to the destruction of a person’s plans,hopes, or happiness. •/They planned to have factories all over the world butthe war brought their plans down about their ears./ •/John hoped to go tocollege and become a great scientist some day, but when his father died he hadto get a job, and John’s dreams came crashing around his ears./ Compare: ONONE’S HEAD.

[about time]{n. phr.} Finally, but later than it should have been; atlast. •/Mother said, "It’s about time you got up, Mary."/ •/Thebasketball team won last night. About time./

[about to] 1. Close to; ready to. — Used with an infinitive. •/We wereabout to leave when the snow began./ •/I haven’t gone yet, but I’m aboutto./ Compare: GOING TO, ON THE POINT OF. 2. {informal} Having a wish orplan to. — Used with an infinitive in negative sentences. •/Freddy wasn’tabout to give me any of his ice-cream cone./ •/"Will she come with us?"asked Bill. "She’s not about to," answered Mary./

[above all]{adv. phr.} Of first or highest importance; mostespecially. •/Children need many things, but above all they need love./Syn.: FIRST AND LAST.