about\ to

about\ to
1. Close to; ready to. - Used with an infinitive.

We were about to leave when the snow began.

I haven't gone yet, but I'm about to.

Compare: going to, on the point of
2. informal Having a wish or plan to. - Used with an infinitive in negative sentences.

Freddy wasn't about to give me any of his ice-cream cone.

"Will she come with us?" asked Bill. "She's not about to," answered Mary.


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • About — A*bout , prep. [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. [=a]butan, onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out. See {But}, {Out}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Around; all round; on every side of. Look about you. Shak. Bind them about thy… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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