Phrase Finder

At your disposal

Posted by Victoria S Dennis November 07, 2010 at 01:24In reply to At your disposal posted by Gordon Pfannenstiel on November 06, 2010 at 11:29:

What is the origin of the phrase: 'At your disposal'?

One of the meanings of the word "disposal" is "Power or right to dispose of, make use of, or deal with as one pleases; control, command, management" (OED definition). Thus, something that is at your disposal is something over which you have that power or right. The use of this construction is first recorded in 1630. (VSD)