anything but
Not at all. I thought the play would be great, but it was anything but. In fact, I left early! My vacation was anything but relaxing because my hotel was under construction. The company Christmas party was anything but festive after news of the impending layoffs got out.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
anything but
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."
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
anything but
not at all (used for emphasis).Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
anything ˈbut
certainly not; just the opposite of something: Ecologists are anything but optimistic about a change in the Government’s attitude towards ‘green’ issues. ♢ ‘I suppose the weather in Scotland was terrible.’ ‘Oh no, anything but.’Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
anything but
By no means; not at all: I was anything but happy about going.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.