I have seen/hear/read the phrase "all but ___" in many different locations, but every time it seems to be either a confirmation or denial of that trait. As in, "all but impossible"; I remember seeing in the context of, "Why, yes this is impossible", or "No, this is not impossible". I would assume it is the latter, but I remember seeing it as a "yes" rather than not.
It doesn't seem that efficient word-wise, why say "all but" when you can say "is" or "isn't". When I hear it nowadays, it sounds very cliched.
So to clarify, True or False:
a) Superman is all but invincible.
b) Me going back in time by jumping up and down on one foot is all but impossible.
What really irritates me is when people say ...'could care less.' If people took maybe 15 or 20 seconds to actually read what they type, they'd realise that they are actually saying the opposite of what they intend.
| |
The phrase "all but [x]" has annoyed me for a while now, becase "all but impossible" means it is everything except impossible, which isn't what people normally intend. I refrain from using it, personally.
Hazman wrote: What really irritates me is when people say ...'could care less.' [...]That's probably a mutation of "couldn't care less" | |
It's just to add flavor to text. Like double negatives and such.
| |
Hazman wrote:
What really irritates me is when people say ...'could care less.' If people took maybe 15 or 20 seconds to actually read what they type, they'd realise that they are actually saying the opposite of what they intend. I could care less. ;-) | |
My understanding of it is that it's not 'impossible' (or whatever word they use), but all adjectives short of that (cumbersome, hard, difficult)
So, 'a' would be true, since kryptonite can make him vulnerable, but he is very close to invincible.
'b' depends on whether of not you think time-travel is possible.