but
but [but buts butted butting] conjunction, preposition, adverb, noun BrE [bət] NAmE [bət] BrE strong form [bʌt] AmE strong form [bʌt]
conjunction
1. used to introduce a word or phrase that contrasts with what was said before
• I got it wrong. It wasn't the red one but the blue one.
• His mother won't be there, but his father might.
•It isn't that he lied exactly, but he did tend to exaggerate.
2. however; despite this
• I'd asked everybody but only two people came.
• By the end of the day we were tired but happy.
3. used when you are saying sorry about sth
• I'm sorry but I can't stay any longer.
4. used to introduce a statement that shows that you are surprised or annoyed, or that you disagree
• But that's not possible!
• ‘Here's the money I owe you.’ ‘But that's not right— it was only £10.’
5. except
•I had no choice but to sign the contract.
6. used before repeating a word in order to emphasize it
•Nothing, but nothing would make him change his mind.
7. (literary)used to emphasize that sth is always true
•She never passed her old home but she thought of the happy years she had spent there (= she always thought of them).
Word Origin:
Old English be-ūtan, būtan, būta ‘outside, without, except’ (see ↑by, ↑out).
Language Bank:
nevertheless
Conceding a point and making a counter-argument
While ▪ the film is undoubtedly too long, it is nevertheless ▪ an intriguing piece of cinema.
It can be argued that ▪ the movie is too long. It is nonetheless ▪ an intriguing piece of cinema.
▪ The film is undoubtedly too long. Still ▪, it is an intriguing piece of cinema.
Of course ▪, huge chunks of the book have been sacrificed in order to make a two-hour movie, but ▪ it is nevertheless ▪ a successful piece of storytelling.
▪ Critics are wrong to argue that the film's plot is too complicated. Certainly ▪ there are a couple of major twists, but ▪ audiences will have no difficulty following them.
It is true that ▪ you cannot make a good movie without a good script, but it is equally true ▪ that a talented director can make a good script into an excellent film.
It remains to be seen whether ▪ these two movies herald a new era of westerns, but there is no doubt that ▪ they represent welcome additions to the genre.
Language Banks at ↑argue, ↑however, ↑impersonal, ↑opinion
Idioms: ↑but for ▪ ↑but then ▪ ↑you could not but …
preposition
except; apart from
• We've had nothing but trouble with this car.
• The problem is anything but easy.
•Who but Rosa could think of something like that?
•Everyone was there but him.
•I came last but one in the race (= I wasn't last but next to last).
•Take the first turning but one (= not the first one but the one after it).
Word Origin:
Old English be-ūtan, būtan, būta ‘outside, without, except’ (see ↑by, ↑out).
adverb
only
• I don't think we'll manage it. Still, we can but try.
• There were a lot of famous people there: Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, to name but two.
Word Origin:
Old English be-ūtan, būtan, būta ‘outside, without, except’ (see ↑by, ↑out).
noun BrE [bʌt] ; NAmE [bʌt] usually plural
a reason that sb gives for not doing sth or not agreeing
• ‘Let us have no buts,’ he said firmly. ‘You are coming.’
• With so many ifs and buts, it is easier to wait and see.
Word Origin:
Old English be-ūtan, būtan, būta ‘outside, without, except’ (see ↑by, ↑out).
|
|
