at the ready

read·y  (rd)

adj. read·i·er, read·i·est

1. Prepared or available for service, action, or progress: I am ready to work. The soup will be ready in a minute. The pupils are ready to learn to read.

2. Mentally disposed; willing: He was ready to believe her.

3. Likely or about to do something: She is ready to retire.

4. Prompt in apprehending or reacting: a ready intelligence; a ready response.

5. Available: ready money.

tr.v. read·ied, read·y·ing, read·ies

To cause to be ready.

Idioms:

at the ready

Available for immediate use: soldiers with machine guns at the ready; students with notebooks at the ready.

make ready

To make preparations.

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[Middle English redy, from Old English rde; see reidh- in Indo-European roots.]

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readi·ness n.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

at the ready - ready for immediate use; "soldiers with guns at the ready"; "students with pens and notebooks at the ready" ready - completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress; "get ready"; "she is ready to resign"; "the bridge is ready to collapse"; "I am ready to work"; "ready for action"; "ready for use"; "the soup will be ready in a minute"; "ready to learn to read"