not by any means

Not in any way; not at all; absolutely not. A: "Tell me the truth: you thought that the play was awful." B: "Not by any means! It wasn't perfect, but I definitely enjoyed it." Not by any means shall our country be drawn into yet another war overseas.

See also: any, by, mean, not

References in classic literature ?

The Dolphin, though quite willing to give him assistance, was unable to do so, as he could not by any means reach the land.

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I have sent Charles to town to make matters up if he can, for I do not by any means want her here.

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And though this also holds true of merchant vessels, yet not by any means to the same extent as with whalemen.

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Several large islands certainly exist in the lake; one of which is said to be mountainous, but not by any means to the extent required to furnish the series of peaks above mentioned.

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As to our lodging, it's not by any means splendid, because I have my own bread to earn, and my father hasn't anything to give me, and I shouldn't be willing to take it, if he had.

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I was right, as appeared later; but in the meantime, the house being stifling hot and the little patch of sand inside the palisade ablaze with midday sun, I began to get another thought into my head, which was not by any means so right.

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Vet the ending is appropriate, and it is not by any means disappointing.

Stroud, Jonathan. Ptolemy's Gate

I do not by any means believe the initiative, the referendum and the recall are the panacea for all our political ills,'' he said, ``yet they do give the electorate the power of action when desired, and they do place in the hands of the people the means by which they may protect themselves.

RECALLING HIRAM JOHNSON EFFORT TO OUST GRAY DAVIS IS EXACTLY WHAT CALIFORNIA'S LEGENDARY POPULIST HAD IN MIND