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

See Examples For:

anything but

“Whatever attention this brings,” Dorothy said, “I cannot be anything but myself.”

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

Nick Florko doesn’t want to brag or anything, but more than a year ago he wrote an article that has come to seem prescient.

From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026

“We see shadow figures … there’s a certain area where they pass back and forth. They don’t do anything, but they’re scary as hell,” Kobliha says of unusual sightings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

In the hours after the U.S. secured its first victory in a World Cup knockout match in more than 20 years last Wednesday, the mood inside the White House was anything but celebratory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

“Well, when we’re done, bring it by here. I can’t promise anything, but I was in charge of sewing and fixing all my brother’s clothes growing up.”

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell