but

bloodied but unbowed (literary)

harmed but not defeated by an unpleasant situation or competition. I emerged bloodied but unbowed from my oral exam.

See also: bloody

but not in the biblical sense (humorous)

if you say you know someone but not in the biblical sense, you mean you have not had sex with them. 'Did you know her then?' 'Yes, but not in the biblical sense.'

See also: sense

but that's another story

something that you say when you have spoken about something, but do not want to say anything more about it at that time. Alex, meanwhile, was falling madly in love with Nicky, but that's another story. Funnily enough, we bumped into each other again in Amsterdam, but that's another story.

See also: another, story

Close, but no cigar. (American & Australian, humorous)

something that you say to someone if what they tell you or what they do is nearly correct but not completely. 'Is his name Howard?' 'Close, but no cigar. It's Harold.'

everything but the kitchen sink (humorous)

a lot of different things, many of which you do not need. We were only going away for the weekend, but Jack insisted on taking everything but the kitchen sink.

See also: everything, kitchen, sink

in all but name

if a situation exists in all but name, it exists although it is not officially described that way. They'd been living together for over ten years. It was a marriage in all but name.

See also: all, name

It never rains but it pours.

something that you say which means that when one bad thing happens, a lot of other bad things also happen, making the situation even worse. First of all it was the car breaking down, then the fire in the kitchen and now Mike's accident. It never rains but it pours!

See also: never, pour, rain

last but not least

something that you say before introducing the last person or thing on a list, meaning that they are equally important. This is Jeremy, this is Kath, and, last but not least, this is Artie. Right, I've got my money, my sunglasses and, last but not least, my lipstick.

See also: last, least

The lights are on but nobody's/no-one's home. (humorous)

something that you say when you think someone is stupid, or when someone does not react because they are thinking about something else. It's no good expecting John to say anything. The lights are on but no-one's home.

See also: home, lights

no ifs and buts (British & Australian, American)

something that you say to a child to stop them arguing with you when you want them to do something. I want no ifs and buts, just tidy your room like I told you to! No ifs, ands or buts, you're going up to bed now!

sadder but wiser

if someone is sadder but wiser after a bad experience, they have suffered but they have also learned something from it. He bought a second-hand car and ended up sadder but wiser after a series of breakdowns and expensive repairs.

See also: sad

There but for the grace of God (go I).

something that you say which means something bad that has happened to someone else could have happened to you. When you hear about all these people who've lost all this money, you can't help thinking there but for the grace of God go I.

See also: god, grace, there

not with a bang but with a whimper (literary)

if something ends not with a bang but with a whimper, it ends in a disappointing way. The concert ended not with a bang but with a whimper, the rain forcing the performance to stop fifteen minutes early.

See also: bang

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all but something

1. almost. In some places, bus service has all but disappeared.

2. everyone or everything except those mentioned. All but the weakest plants survived the hot weather.

See also: all

anything but

not. The minister and the church leaders are all deaf, yet the service is anything but silent.

Usage notes: used to emphasize that something is the opposite of what you might expect

See also: anything

close, but no cigar

almost but not exactly what you had hoped for or wanted. Vince never got that big win he wanted — it was always close but no cigar.

Etymology: from games of skill or chance in which the person who won would get a cigar as a prize

everything but the kitchen sink

almost all that you can imagine of something. Here's a website that simply has everything but the kitchen sink.

Etymology: based on the idea that if you brought many things to someone, a kitchen sink is one of the last things you would bring because it is difficult to move

See also: everything, kitchen, sink

in all but name

very like something that is called something different. He may call himself a liberal but he's actually a conservative in all but name.

See also: all, name

last but not least

important, despite being mentioned at the end. The mall has sports and shoe and clothing stores and, last but not least, plenty of terrific places to eat.

See also: last, least

no ifs, ands, or buts

without excuses or doubts. If they catch you stealing, you're fired on the spot – no ifs, ands, or buts about it.

nothing but something

1. only something. During spring vacation, he ate nothing but canned beans. The police were praised for showing nothing but the highest degree of professionalism.

2. completely something. The story was nothing but lies. My car is nothing but trouble.

See also: nothing