Willingness "V at n" construction

Form

NP
Cognizer
Verb
at
NP
Activity

Examples

Cognizer [The airlines]
are
Verb balking
at at
Activity [paying higher airport fees.]

Meaning

A Cognizer is either willing or reluctant to engage in an Activity.

Roles

Cognizer
The person who would engage in the Activity.
Activity
What the Cognizer would do.

Frames

Inherits from

Sub-constructions

Lexical items ( Verb slot)

Willingness balk The airlines are balking at paying higher airport fees. jib Iran jibbed at a clause saying that if it resumed enrichment it would be referred to the UN. jump He jumped at the chance to become the Actors Studio's director. leap I leapt at every opportunity to venture into "the city".

Phraseological constructions