in all but name

in all but name

In every way except for how someone or something is named or described. I schedule the roster, I order inventory, and I hire new staff—I'm really the manager in all but name. If you have kids and a mortgage together, you're pretty much married in all but name.

See also: all, but, name

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

in all but name

existing in a particular state but not formally recognized as such.

1999 Chris Hulme Manslaughter United He had spent twenty-one out of twenty-five years in segregation (solitary confinement in all but name).

See also: all, but, name

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

in ˌall but ˈname

used to describe a situation which exists in reality but that is not officially recognized: He runs the company in all but name.

See also: all, but, name

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017