at length
at length — 慣用語
1. continuing for a considerable amount of time, especially when someone is talking
長時間地
持續很長一段時間，尤指談話或書寫
continuing for a considerable amount of time, especially when someone is talking, explaining, or writing about something
Brandon and his father spoke at length about which universities had the best science programmes.
Brandon 和父親長時間討論了哪些大學的科學課程最強。
speak at length + about [topic]
The two friends sat on the park bench and talked at length about their schooldays.
兩位老友坐在公園長椅上，聊了好久以前的學生時代。
Ingrid wrote at length in her diary about the strange events of a rainy Tuesday.
Ingrid 在日記裡寫了好長一段，記錄那個下雨的星期二發生的種種怪事。
The town council discussed the housing plan at length before calling the midnight vote.
鎮議會長時間討論了住房計畫，直到午夜才進行表決。
Beatriz answered at length, her voice growing softer as she reached the difficult part of the story.
Beatriz 回答了很長時間，講到故事最難的部分時，聲音越來越輕。
- for a long time
more common in everyday speech; at length is slightly more formal
- at great length
adds emphasis, suggesting the duration was notably long
文法句型
speak/talk/discuss/write/chat + at length
2. finally happening after a period of waiting, searching, or sustained effort — us
終於；過後
歷經等待或努力後終於發生
finally happening after a period of waiting, searching, or sustained effort — used when the delay felt long and the outcome was uncertain or hoped for
At length, the bus appeared around the corner after nearly an hour of waiting.
過了許久，公車終於在轉角出現，他們已經等了將近一小時。
at length, + [event] — sentence-initial for delayed occurrence
The doctor came out at length and told Sana the surgery had gone well.
過了許久醫生才出來，告訴 Sana 手術很順利。
Otis searched every drawer in the kitchen and at length found the missing key.
Otis 翻遍廚房每個抽屜，終於找到了那支不見的鑰匙。
At length, the long winter ended and the first green shoots appeared in the garden.
漫長的冬天終於結束，花園裡冒出了第一批綠芽。
At length, Emre finished the marathon, his legs shaking but his face full of joy.
終於，Emre 跑完了馬拉松，雙腿顫抖但滿臉喜悅。
- finally
the everyday choice; at length is more literary or formal
- eventually
more neutral; at length carries a stronger sense that the wait felt long
- at last
very close in meaning but more common in speech than in writing
- after a while
less formal, suggests a shorter wait than at length
文法句型
at length, + [event happened]
[effort/wait] + and at length + [result]
用法筆記
Covers any situation where something happens after a delay — whether the delay is passive waiting (a bus, test results), active searching (lost keys), or sustained struggle (a marathon). More literary than 'finally' or 'at last'.
3. going into all the important parts of a subject so that nothing significant is s
詳盡地
完整而透徹地說明或描述
going into all the important parts of a subject so that nothing significant is skipped — the focus is on completeness, not on how long it takes
Asher explained his volcano experiment at length to the group of wide-eyed younger students.
Asher 向那群瞪大眼睛的年幼學生詳盡解釋了他的火山實驗。
explain at length + to [audience]
The travel guide describes at length every temple and market in the old city.
這本旅遊指南詳盡描述了舊城區的每座寺廟和每個市場。
Nellie set out her case at length in a three-page letter to the planning committee.
Nellie 在一封長達三頁的信中向規劃委員會詳盡陳述了她的論點。
Professor Adisa answered the question at length, using climate data from three different continents.
Adisa 教授詳盡回答了問題，並引用三大洲的氣候資料作為佐證。
Jisoo wrote at length about learning Turkish from zero during a year in Istanbul.
Jisoo 詳盡寫下她在伊斯坦堡那年從零開始學習土耳其語的經歷。
- in detail
more common in everyday speech; at length sounds more formal or written
- thoroughly
single-word alternative; at length implies the explanation took time as well as care
- comprehensively
stresses completeness; at length adds a sense of duration to the thoroughness
文法句型
explain/describe/write/set out + at length
用法筆記
Most often used with verbs of explaining or describing. Not typically used with action verbs.