English Q: anything but, nothing less/more than etc.

[Guest Wai_Wai]

anything but, nothing less/more than etc.

I would like to know why the following phrases have such meanings:

[Maybe it is difficult to explain though :roll: It would be very grateful if you can try to explain]

 

- anything but (= definitely not)

Does "anything" mean "everything" here? But anything is used with not, like "I don't have anything". So it seems to mean nothing.

I know "But" here is served to mean an exception.

 

- no/nothing less than (=competely, exactly, surely)

- no/nothing more than (=only, just)

 

- more often than not (=very usually)

 

 

Thanks a lot for your help.

[Phi for All]

anything but (= definitely not)

Correct, as in "Would I wear the pink socks? Anything but."

Does "anything" mean "everything" here? But anything is used with not, like "I don't have anything". So it seems to mean nothing.

I know "But" here is served to mean an exception.

No, it's more like "I would like any other color socks except the pink socks."

no/nothing less than (=competely, exactly, surely)

- no/nothing more than (=only, just)

like flammable and inflammable, these mean about the same thing, "I would like nothing less (more) than to burn those pink socks."

more often than not (=very usually)

Correct

Thanks a lot for your help.

You're welcome.

[Guest Wai_Wai]

Correct' date=' as in "Would I wear the pink socks? Anything but."

No, it's more like "I would like any other color socks except the pink socks."

like flammable and inflammable, these mean about the same thing, "I would like nothing less (more) than to burn those pink socks."

Correct

You're welcome.[/quote']

 

 

Hi, thanks for your answer again.

 

>anything but

I think "everything but" is equal to "anything but".

What do you think?

 

 

>no/nothing less than (=competely, exactly, surely)

>no/nothing more than (=only, just)

 

I would like to know ""why"" they mean that.

Why no/nothing less than = completely?

Why no/nothing more than = only?

 

I know it might be difficult to explain. But it would be grateful if you could try to explain to me. Thanks.

 

 

> more often than not (=very usually)

Why does it mean that?

 

 

Thanks a lot.

[steve5jack]

I think "everything but" is equal to "anything but".

What do you think?

 

Kind of. If you say "anything but" you are stressing that fact that it can be any possible thing except for the one mentioned. 'Everything but' does not quite have the same subtle meaning.

 

> more often than not (=very usually)

Why does it mean that?

 

You are saying that an event happens more often than it does not happen. For example, a very good sports team could be said to 'win more often than not'. Meaning that they win more often than they lose.