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What is the difference between these phrases? When is it valid to use which? Should they be avoided as being ambiguous?

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In case it helps: in these expressions, "but" is interchangeable with "except". – ShreevatsaR Jan 7 '11 at 12:29

5 Answers

up vote 18 down vote

Nothing but A

Means only A.

Anything but A

Means that you don't want A. You could have B or C, or maybe even both B and C (and even E if someone offers) - but NOT A!

Everything but A

Means that A is the only thing you don't want. You do want the rest of the entire alphabet - but NOT A!

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and "all but" - seen here for example: "Apple has sent out event invitations for an announcement on March 2, all but certain to be focused on the next-generation iPad.", from arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/02/… – Eli Bendersky Feb 27 '11 at 13:04
"All but" is slightly different, and is discussed in other questions: “He all but (did something)”, “All but” idiom has two meanings? and “to be all but X”. It means "very nearly". – awe Nov 1 '11 at 13:41
up vote 6 down vote

"Nothing but" means only:

  • Nothing but the best.
  • Only the best.

"Anything but" means any one thing except whatever follows but:

  • Don't make me go to school. Anything but that.
  • Don't make me go to school. You can make me do anything else, but don't make me go to school.

"Everything but" means everything excepting whatever follows but:

  • He remembered to bring everything but his toothbrush.
  • He brought everything with him except his toothbrush, which he left behind.
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up vote 4 down vote

But here means except.

I want nothing but chocolate

means I do not want to have any food except chocolate.

Give me anything but chocolate

means I can eat all kinds of food except chocolate.

I will eat everything but the chocolate

means I am going to have all the food in front of me except the chocolate.

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thanks! I've expanded the question with "everything but" as well – Eli Bendersky Jan 6 '11 at 8:10
Curiously I've seen some people (of south-african origin, if that matters) use "anything but" the other way around. this is why I suspected an ambiguity - but perhaps they were just wrong – Eli Bendersky Jan 6 '11 at 8:36
up vote 0 down vote

"I wanted everything but that" means "I really didn't want that at all". So, unlike "all but" which means "almost", "everything but" means "very far from".

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up vote 0 down vote

Nothing but + (positive)
Anything but - (negative)
Everything but -(negative)

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Not quite sure what the difference between the last two items is (or whether "- (negative)" and "-(negative)" are actually supposed to be the same thing). Can you please clarify? – RegDwighт♦ Jan 30 at 21:40

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