anything but

Idioms  

1. By no means, not at all, as in He is anything but ambitious for a promotion. William Wordsworth in his long poem, The Prelude (1805–1806), wrote: “Grief call it not, 'twas anything but that.”

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Example Sentences

And a plan for capturing Iran’s nuclear supply—assuming one exists—is anything but.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

They don't have any friends or followers and don't post anything but they interact with whatever comes up on their feed by liking posts, watching videos and following pages.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The big yield moves come amid a backdrop that feels anything but usual.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 29, 2026

I don’t understand how that market is for anything but speculation.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

He doesn’t say anything but also doesn’t go away.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz