At least/The least

When bad things happen, or when someone says something bad, sometimes we want to recognize the negative but also emphasize the positive. I call this defensive optimism. In this type of situation, we often use the expression at least.

Using at least for Measurement

In its most basic use, at least is used for measuring quantities of a physical object.

- That guy weighs at least ninety kilograms.

- There must be at least nine people in that car!

Using at least to be Defensive or Optimistic

However, there is a more common use of at least among native English speakers. It does relate to minimums, but is used in very different situations. Consider the following conversation.

A: You're stupid and you're ugly.
B: At least I have friends.

In this conversation, it is important to note that B is not really disagreeing with A. In fact, B is almost acknowledging the truth of A's statement. The use of at least does not negate what another person has said.

What the use of at least does here is to find a minimum positive aspect in the whole situation, and express it. It is therefore a powerful linguistic weapon for the positive thinker.

As an added bonus, using at least often implies that the person making the comment (person A in the above conversation) lacks the minimum positive in question. In other words, B's reply implies two things:

1. I have friends, which is more important than being stupid and ugly.
2. You don't have any friends.

It can also be used to offer sympathy and support. Consider the following example.

A: What a disaster! I lost my job and I'll probably have to sell my house!
B: At least your family still loves you.

Depending on how you read it, B could be implying that his family does not love him, but the meaning here depends on the context. If B's voice is angry instead of supportive, B could be feeling sorry for himself.

The trick for students in distinguishing the difference is looking at the subject of the first sentence. If it has a negative implication for the listener, then at least is probably being used for defense. If the implication is neutral to or does not affect the listener, then at least is probably being used as an example of positive thinking.
Using at least to "Cover Your Tracks"

The second use of at least as a conversational is not related to minimums at all. It is used instead to "cover one's tracks" after saying something that is hanging in the air and may not be true. Nobody likes to make mistakes and sound stupid, but everybody speaks without thinking, so this use of at least is also very common.

- Canada is the biggest country in the world, at least that's what my teacher told me.

In this case, the first clause is spoken, but then, whether because of a few frowns from listeners or because the teacher may have made a mistake, the student adds the second clause believing that she may have been misinformed. The statement is in fact incorrect (Canada is the world's second biggest country), so the student was smart to add the second clause.

This is an extremely Canadian linguistic structure. Canadians as a rule do not like to make flat statements of fact that invite the possibility of disagreement, and so we often cover ourselves by shifting the burden of responsibility for the opinion to our sources.

- That guy is a real idiot, at least that's what I heard from his ex-wife.

In this sentence, the speaker makes a strong statement, and then realizes that, if it were interpreted the wrong way or if the wrong person heard it, there might be some sort of confrontation.

This expression can be very useful to an ESL student. For someone learning a new language, sentences seldom come out as intended. Using at least gives a student the opportunity to transfer responsibility for mistakes, as in the following example.

- She said she wanted to paint my nose, at least I think that's what she said.

Using the least... to Express Disappointment

The least... is used in situations of complaint and disappointment with a person or situation. It is similar to the use of at least to be defensive. The following two sentences have the same meaning.

- You could have at least sent me a card.

- The least you could have done was (to) send me a card.

In this case, perhaps someone is lying in his/her hospital bed one week after being in a traffic accident and, after a long wait, the "best friend" comes in for a visit. The excuse for not visiting sooner was a busy schedule. The injured friend wants to express disappointment. The least [subject] + can + do is often used for such expressions of disappointment with another person.

A: What do you mean I never do housework?!? I'm busy, what do you expect me to do?
B: Well, the least you could do is (to) wash the dishes occasionally.

Native English speakers often omit the infinitive to in this expression. Students will wonder why the verb be is used with the simple form, but in fact this use of the simple form is really just an infinitive.

Using the least... to Express Appreciation

The least is also used with a first-person subject to show return appreciation for a past service after receiving a 'thank you' from that someone who either helped you in the past or to whom you feel indebted to in some other way.

A: I really appreciate your helping me study for that test.
B: Not at all. It was the least I could do after you helped me on the last one.

If you are an English language learner, please feel free to create your own example from any of these expressions, and post it using the Comments feature. I will let you know whether or not it is correct, and, if it isn't, how to fix it.


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