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Archiver > ABOUT-WORDS > 2003-05 > 1051815188


From: "Bruce Todd" <>
Subject: Re: [ABOUT WORDS] "all but" vs "anything but"
Date: Thu, 1 May 2003 14:53:08 -0400
References: <000c01c31001$5ba72c00$8544a2cb@linh>


Linh - I'm still looking for any references, but let me say this -

Consider the phrase -

The airport was all deserted.

There is no question that the desertion is completed. When you add "but"
as in -

The airport was all but deserted.

you are implying that there is just one more step to go before the
desertion is completed. I believe you are implying a process which, if
it continues, will end up causing the airport to be deserted. At any
rate, "all but" is a colloquialism for "just about".

When you say -

The airport is anything but deserted.

you are likely putting up an argument, saying "call the airport
anything, but don't call it deserted". You are not likely implying that
there is a process ongoing which will cause the airport to be deserted
in the near future.

Depending on how you look at it, you could view these sentences as
opposites, or maybe just "different states".

I hope this provides some clarification.

Bruce.

> Hi list members,
> I am a little confused about the meaning of the sentence "The airport
was
> all but deserted." It's opposite in meaning to "The airport was
anything but
> deserted," isn't it? Will somebody please give me some clarification?
> Thank you very much in advance.
> With best regards,
> Linh
>
>
> ==============================
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