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Definition: But |
ButAdverb1. And nothing more; "I was merely asking"; "it is simply a matter of time"; "just a scratch"; "he was only a child"; "hopes that last but a moment". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "but" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references) |
| Domain | Definition |
Mining | Scot. Outward; toward the shaft; outbye. (references) |
Multilingual Slang | Swedish (stjärt, rumpa). (references) |
Tips from 1870 | Usage: Only, Except, But. "The house was as convenient as his, only that it was a trifle smaller." Use except for only. "The field was as large as his, only the soil was less fertile." Use but for only. Usage: But, Except. "Being the eldest of the brothers but Philip, who was an invalid, he assumed charge of his father's estate." Except is better than but. Usage: But, If. "I should not wonder but the assembly would adjourn to-day." Use if instead of but. Usage: But, That. "I have no doubt but he will serve you well." Say, "that he will serve you well." Usage: But. "There is no doubt but that he is the greatest painter of the age." The word but is superfluous. "He never doubted but that he was the best fisherman on the coast." Omit but. Usage: Or, Nor, As well as, But, Save. When two or more nominatives in the singular are separated by such words as the preceding, the verb must be singular. "Veracity, as well as justice, is to be our rule of life."-- Butler. "Not a weed nor a blade of grass were to be seen." Change were to was. "Nothing but wailings were heard." Transpose. "Nothing was heard but wailings." The verb should be was. "Either one or the other of them are in the wrong." The verb should be is. If, however, one or more of the nominatives are plural, the verb must be plural. "It is not his wealth, or gifts, or culture that gives him this distinction." Gifts being plural, the verb should be give. Some authorities say that the verb should agree in number with the subject which is placed next before it, and be understood (or silent) to the rest; as, "Neither he nor his brothers were there," "Neither his brothers nor he was there," "Neither you nor I am concerned." Prof. Genung, author of Outlines of Rhetoric, says: "When a clash of concord arises, either choose subjects that have the same number, or choose a verb that has the same form for both numbers." He gives this sentence to show the change of verb: "Fame or the emoluments of valor were (was) never to be his." "Fame or the emoluments of valor could never be his." And this sentence to show the change of one of the subjects: "Neither the halter nor bayonets are (is) sufficient to prevent us from obtaining our rights." "Neither the halter nor the bayonet is sufficient to prevent us from obtaining our rights." Source: Slips of Speech. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following table is compiled from various sources, across various languages. When English abbreviations or acronyms come from a non-English source, this is noted. | |||
| Entry | Source | Expression | Field |
BUT | English | Atlantic butterfish | Food & Agriculture, International Organizations |
Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |||
Synonyms: ButSynonyms: just (adv), merely (adv), only (adv), simply (adv). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Compensation | Adverb: in return, in consideration; but, however, yet, still, notwithstanding; nevertheless, nathless, none the less; although, though; albeit, howbeit; mauger; at all events, at any rate; be that as it may, for all that, even so, on the other, hand, at the same time, quoad minus, quand meme, however that may be; after all is said and done; taking one thing with another; (average). |
Limit | Noun: limit, boundary, bounds, confine, enclave, term, bourn, verge, curbstone, but, pale, reservation; termination, terminus; stint, frontier, precinct, marches; backwoods. |
Qualification | Adverb: provided, provided that, provided always; if, unless, but, yet; according as; conditionally, admitting, supposing; on the supposition of; (theoretically); with the understanding, even, although, though, for all that, after all, at all events. |
Unconformity | However, yet, but. |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: But |
| English words defined with "but": All but, Anything but ♦ But and if, But end ♦ Can not choose but ♦ Top and but. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "but": available but not needed capability ♦ But that, But what ♦ Can but, Cannot but ♦ Doubt not but ♦ incurred but not reported ♦ Lots of MIPS but no I/O ♦ Men are but Children of a Larger Growth ♦ Not impossible but. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "but": Yead. (references) |
| Non-English Usage: "But" is also a word in the following languages with English translations in parentheses. Albanian (butt), French (aim, blank, butt, clout, drift, end, goal, hit, home, intention, Mark, object, plan, point, purpose, study, target, view), Manx (prop ), Romanian (goal, leg), Serbo-Croatian (aitchbone, ham, leg), Turkish (buttock, croup, croupe, drumstick, gigot, haunch, hindquarter, huckle, leg, rump, thigh), Turkmen (hip, thigh). |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | I'm an educated man, but I can't speak intelligently about the travel habits of William Santiago (A Few Good Men; writing credit: Aaron Sorkin) But no matter (Batman & Robin; writing credit: Akiva Goldsman) But it helps me remember and I need to remember Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in. (American Beauty; writing credit: Alan Ball) Then what a pair we could make, but what if it's a lesson I don't care to learn (Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles; writing credit: Anne Rice) That beautiful stage that you were gonna build for me. You were gonna light it with nothing but candles (The Sweet Hereafter; writing credit: Atom Egoyan) | |
Lyrics | But the shoutin' is so loud (But For The Grace Of God; performing artist: Keith Urban) And I would do anything for love, but I won't do that, (I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That); performing artist: Meat Loaf) Agree to disagree but disagree to part (Things We Do For Love; performing artist: 10 CC) Flossin' but havin' caution (California Love; performing artist: 2 PAC) You call me strong, you call me weak but still your secrets I will keep (Kryptonite; performing artist: 3 Doors Down) | |
Clever | Kids are wonderful, but I like mine barbecued. (references; author: Bob Hope) Be careless in your dress if you must, but keep a tidy soul. (references; author: Mark Twain) Sex without love is an empty gesture. But as empty gestures go, it is one of the best. (references; author: Woody Allen) I didn't like the play, but then I saw it under adverse conditions - the curtain was up. (references; author: Groucho Marx) The tongue is but three inches long, yet it can kill a man six feet high. (references; author: Japanese Proverb) | |
Tongue Twisters | A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk. (references; author: unknown) I need not your needles, they're needless to me; for kneading of noodles, 'twere needless, you see; but did my neat knickers but need to be kneed, I then should have need of your needles indeed. (references; author: unknown) I thought a thought. But the thought I thought wasn't the thought I thought I thought. (references; author: unknown) | |
Movie/TV Titles | Columbo: Lovely But Lethal (1973) It's Murder But Is It Art (1972) Nothing But Common Sense (1972) But Now They Are Fled (1971) Hasty But Tasty (1969) | |
Song Titles | NOTHING BUT A HEARTACHE (performing artist: Flirtations ) Nobody But Me (performing artist: The Human Beinz) BUT IT'S ALRIGHT (performing artist: J J Jackson ) But For The Grace Of God (performing artist: Keith Urban) Those Oldies But Goodies (performing artist: Little Caesar and The Romans) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title | ||
References | |||
Books |
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Theater & Movies | |||
Music |
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High Tech |
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Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |||
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Shown is a close-up of scientist's hands holding three test tubes. The one on the left contains normal healthy t-lymphocytes, notice the pellet on the bottom. The middle vial has t-cells that have been infected with the AIDS virus HIV also known as HTLV-III; note the pellet has been destroyed since the cells have died. The test tube on the right contains t-lymphocytes that were exposed to the AIDS virus but since they were protected by AZT, the cells were not destroyed and the pellet stayed intact. Credit: John Crawford (photographer). |  | Pictured is a breast cancer cell, photographed by a scanning electron microscope, which produces a 3-dimensional images. This picture shows the overall shape of the cell's surface at a very high magnification. Cancer cells are best identified by internal details, but research with a scanning electron microscope can show how cells respond in changing environments and can show mapping distribution of binding sites of hormones and other biological molecules. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist. |
 | The CDC moved its location to Clifton Road after construction was completed in 1960. In 1947, Emory University donated the land on Clifton Road for the new CDC headquarters, but construction did not begin for more than a decade. Credit: CDC. |  | Cell fusion producing a large multinucleated cell is a viral cytopathic effect characteristic, but not diagnostic, of infection by HIV-1. Some other viruses can cause this as well. Credit: CDC. |
 | The colorful "zigzag" on the right is not the work of a flamboyant artist, but the signature ... Credit: NASA. |  | Most galaxies form new stars at a fairly slow rate, but members of a rare class known as ... Credit: NASA. |
 | Viking 2 image of the region around the "Inca City". Viking 2 alsoimaged the region, but no evidence of the feature was visible in this image fromorbit 225. It has been enhanced to bring out the details (noise reduced andcontrast enhanced). The resolution of the original image is 0.544 km/pixel andis centered at -81.56 degrees latitude and 69.82 degrees longitude. Reproducedfrom volume 55 of theMission to Mars: Viking Orbiter Images of Mars CD-ROM set. Credit: NASA. |  | An overhead view like the one above, but different wavelengthsare assigned to the red, green and blue channels to make the hurricaneappear red. Credit: NASA. |
 | The western region of Australia's Great Sandy Desert is an area almost devoid of sand, but characterized by complex geology. Credit: NASA. |  | The West Fjords are a series of peninsulas in northwestern Iceland. They represent less than one-eighth the country's land area, but their jagged perimeter accounts for more than half of Iceland's total coastline. Credit: NASA. |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
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| "Alone, but what a view" by Martin Kessel Commentary: "Just a nice place... walking, well sitting, in the Austrian Tirol region. Ricoh i-500 shot." | "Old but beautiful" by Harald Wittmaack Commentary: "This old but really wonderful house was shot in Croatia in a small village near Porec (Sorry can't remember the excat name of the village)." |
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers. | |
| Play | Caption |
 | Restaurant background noise in which the voices are audible but unintelligibly jumbled together. |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Author | Quotation |
Benjamin Franklin | Read much, but not many books. |
George Herbert | Be thrifty, but not covetous. |
H.g. Wells | I am not a man but a mob. |
Henry David Thoreau | The sun is but a morning star. |
Horace | We are but dust and shadow. |
Joe Louis | He can run. But he can't hide. |
Lucius Annaeus Seneca | Not lost, but gone before. |
Ludwig Boerne | Nought endures but change. |
Ralph Waldo Emerson | We never touch but at points. |
Robert Louis Stevenson | There is but one art, to omit. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
Magna Carta | 1215 | Common pleas shall not follow our court, but shall be held in some fixed place. (reference) |
John Locke | 1690 | But to let this of names pass. (Second Treatise of Government) |
US Declaration of Independence | 1776 | But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. (reference) |
US Constitution | 1791 | But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President. (reference) |
US Bill of Rights | 1795 | Amendment III. No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. (reference) |
Amendment to US Constitution | 1795-1992 | But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. (reference) |
Marbury v. Madison | 1803 | But the peculiar expressions of the constitution of the United States furnish additional arguments in favour of its rejection. (reference) |
Communist Manifesto | 1848 | But every class struggle is a political struggle. (reference) |
Abraham Lincoln | 1863 | But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. (The Gettysburg Address) |
Treaty of Versailles | 1919 | These stations may be used for commercial purposes, but only under the supervision of the said Governments, who will decide the wavelength to be used. (reference) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Title | Author | Quote |
The Wisdom of the Sands | Antoine de Saint-Exupery | As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it. |
Emma | Austen, Jane | It is not Swisserland, but it will be something for a young man so much in want of a change |
Through the Looking-Glass | Carroll, Lewis | But Hatta only munched away, and drank some more tea. |
A Christmas Carol | Dickens, Charles | But he was early at the office next morning |
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency | Douglas Adams | Well, no, not married as such, but yes, there is a specific girl that I'm not married to. |
Scarlet Letter | Hawthorne, Nathaniel | But, as for me, I come to the inquest with other senses than they possess |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | They had tried to pull him out, but in vain |
Imitation of Horace | John Dryden | Not heaven itself upon the past has power; But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour |
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man | Joyce, James | He feared intensely in spirit and in flesh but, raising his head bravely, he strode into the room firmly |
Time Enough for Love | Robert Heinlein | But flowers work almost as well |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | But CRF cannot be cured. (references) | |
Some, but not all, need insulin. (references) | ||
But it only helps for about 4 hours. (references) | ||
Business | Renewal is possible but it is not guaranteed. (references) | |
But German-American ties extend back to the colonial era. (references) | ||
This is so not only for new, but also for mature equipment. (references) | ||
Children | Brazil | Some are homeless, but the majority returned home at night. (references) |
Ghana | Shrine priests generally are male, but may be female as well. (references) | |
Bulgaria | Of these children, only 2 percent are orphans, but many are disabled. (references) | |
Civil Liberties | Colombia | A third suspect was charged but died before the trial. (references) |
Romania | Media accuracy is not high but has been improving gradually. (references) | |
Maldives | Shakir later was arrested, but was released soon thereafter. (references) | |
Discrimination | Tanzania | Discrimination based on sex, age, or disability is not prohibited specifically by law but is discouraged publicly in official statements. (references) |
Seychelles | The Constitution affirms the right to be free from all types of discrimination, but it does not prohibit discrimination based on these factors specifically. (references) | |
Romania | The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies passed the ordinance during the year, but the Chamber amended it to exclude sexual orientation as a basis for discrimination, while the Senate passed it unchanged. (references) | |
Economic History | Portugal | But this is only part of the story. (references) |
Belgium | But Rome's power gradually lessened. (references) | |
Chile | It exists, but only on a small scale. (references) | |
Human Rights | Ecuador | Wiretapping is illegal but it does occur. (references) |
Kazakhstan | A bail system exists, but it rarely is used. (references) | |
Afghanistan | Their trial began, but immediately was adjourned. (references) | |
Indigenous People | Bangladesh | Ninety-one persons were accused of involvement in the attack, but only four were arrested. (references) |
Malaysia | The leader of an Orang Asli NGO welcomed the announcement, but urged the Government to proceed quickly. (references) | |
Australia | The ATSIC stated that the amended act provided gains for Aboriginal people but still contains "substantial pain" for native title claimants. (references) | |
Minorities | India | The rest still are displaced, but many are living in Jammu and New Delhi. (references) |
Comoros | This campaign resulted in threats, but there were no reports of violence. (references) | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Local police responded immediately to the attack, but no arrests were made. (references) | |
Political Economy | New Zealand | Disparities in wealth are small but increasing. (references) |
CHILE | Sector-wide collective bargaining is allowed but not mandatory. (references) | |
Sudan | In July all but seven of the detainees were released from custody. (references) | |
Political Rights | Bhutan | Each village is permitted to nominate one candidate but must do so by consensus. (references) |
Algeria | The RND lost some seats but remained the overall victor in the Assembly elections. (references) | |
Venezuela | The outgoing Ombudsman and others challenged the selection procedure but lost the appeal. (references) | |
Trade | Zambia | Short-term borrowing is available, but expensive. (references) |
Korea | This may cost a bit more, but may be well worth it. (references) | |
Venezuela | Financing is currently expensive, but readily available. (references) | |
Travel | Ukraine | Trains are slow, but generally safe. (references) |
Poland | Violent crime remains rare, but is growing. (references) | |
Slovak Rep | Telex services are available, but not commonly used. (references) | |
Women | India | Rape is a common but underreported crime. (references) |
Argentina | Adult prostitution is illegal but does occur. (references) | |
India | Such a bill has been drafted but not yet passed. (references) | |
Worker Rights | East Timor | These unions were weak, but active. (references) |
Thailand | Repatriation is delayed, but not canceled. (references) | |
Korea | Many become brides, but some work in the sex industry. (references) | |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | WRATH, n. Anger of a superior quality and degree, appropriate to exalted characters and momentous occasions; as, "the wrath of God," "the day of wrath," etc. Amongst the ancients the wrath of kings was deemed sacred, for it could usually command the agency of some god for its fit manifestation, as could also that of a priest. The Greeks before Troy were so harried by Apollo that they jumped out of the frying-pan of the wrath of Cryses into the fire of the wrath of Achilles, though Agamemnon, the sole offender, was neither fried nor roasted. A similar noted immunity was that of David when he incurred the wrath of Yahveh by numbering his people, seventy thousand of whom paid the penalty with their lives. God is now Love, and a director of the census performs his work without apprehension of disaster. X X in our alphabet being a needless letter has an added invincibility to the attacks of the spelling reformers, and like them, will doubtless last as long as the language. X is the sacred symbol of ten dollars, and in such words as Xmas, Xn, etc., stands for Christ, not, as is popular supposed, because it represents a cross, but because the corresponding letter in the Greek alphabet is the initial of his name -- Xristos. If it represented a cross it would stand for St. Andrew, who "testified" upon one of that shape. In the algebra of psychology x stands for Woman's mind. Words beginning with X are Grecian and will not be defined in this standard English dictionary. Y |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Phrase(s) |
Dennis Miller | Fast food is not only delicious to the taste, but also very soothing to the psyche. |
John Hartmann | Look, David, I know you're counting on me to play a key role in your hollow charade, but I'm afraid it's a lost cause. |
Linda Thompson | Met Priscilla. But only a couple of times. Priscilla was really not on the scene as much as people might assume. |
Martin Scorsese | Tough neighborhood but it was a working class, working class, but it was right off the bowery too, you know. |
Naomi Campbell | Liquor. That just makes me feel everything but my real self. It makes me not give my true emotions, so. |
Phyllis Diller | Short of breathness. Short breath. I am short of breath. But right now, I'm fine because I'm looking at you. |
Rush Limbaugh | Call it whatever you like, but know that once again, Rush is right. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
Thomas Jefferson | 1801-1809 | Among the Romans emancipation required but one effort. |
Herbert C. Hoover | 1929-1933 | Fortunately they are but a small percentage of our people. |
Harry S. Truman | 1945-1953 | Some are more urgent than others, but all are necessary. |
Dwight Eisenhower | 1953-1961 | Labor sweats to create--and turns out devices to level not only mountains but also cities. |
John F. Kennedy | 1961-1963 | Getting America moving But a stronger nation and economy require more than a balanced Budget. |
Richard Nixon | 1969-1974 | Abroad, the shift from old policies to new has not been a retreat from our responsibilities, but a better way to peace. |
Ronald Reagan | 1981-1989 | Perhaps, but it could save millions of lives, indeed humanity itself. |
George Bush | 1989-1993 | Moods come and go, but greatness endures. |
Bill Clinton | 1993-2001 | Not because we will make you, but because you should. |
George W. Bush | 2001-2005 | Homeland security will make America not only stronger, but, in many ways, better. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "But" is generally used as a conjunction (coordinating) -- approximately 99.60% of the time. "But" is used about 455,423 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Conjunction (coordinating) | 99.6% | 453,615 | 24 |
| Adverb (general) | 0.25% | 1,119 | 6,804 |
| Conjunction (subordinating) | 0.1% | 443 | 13,068 |
| Preposition (except "of") | 0.05% | 246 | 19,009 |
| Total | 100.00% | 455,423 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
| The following table summarizes the usage of "but" based on a population census conducted in the United States. Ranks and frequencies are based on all names reported and classified. |
| Name | Usage/Gender | Usage per 100 million Persons | Rank in USA |
| But | Last name | 130 | 58,183 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits. | |||
Expressions using "but": All but ♦ all but him ♦ all but me ♦ all that is transitory is but an illusion ♦ among them but not of them ♦ Anything but ♦ available but not needed capability ♦ be nothing but skin and bone ♦ brief but to the point ♦ but ... to make up ♦ But and if ♦ But end ♦ but for ♦ but for him ♦ but I didn't believe it ♦ But if ♦ but in practise unlikely ♦ but me no buts ♦ but of course! ♦ but shaft ♦ but still ♦ but that ♦ but the ♦ but then ♦ but what ♦ but worse was to follow ♦ but yet ♦ Can not choose but ♦ granted but ♦ he does nothing but moan ♦ he was all but dead ♦ i cannot but ♦ i hate to say this but ♦ i know her but she doesn't ♦ in face a lion but in heart a deer ♦ incurred but not reported ♦ it is but a sport for him ♦ it never rains but it pours ♦ it's all but impossible ♦ last but not least ♦ last but one ♦ last but two ♦ lots of MIPS but no I/O ♦ naked but unashamed ♦ next but one ♦ nigh but ♦ nobody but ♦ none but ♦ none but a fool ♦ none but fools ♦ none but himself could be his parallel ♦ none but you ♦ not but ♦ not but ♦ not but what ♦ not only ... but ♦ not only ... but also ♦ nothing but ♦ nothing but bread ♦ nothing but dust ♦ nothing but skin and bones ♦ nothing is certain but death and taxes ♦ nothing remains but to accept ♦ receive nothing but abuse ♦ she's but a child ♦ slow but steady ♦ slowly but surely ♦ speech is silver but silence is golden ♦ thanks but no thanks ♦ the Denticete including the dolphins and sperm whale which have teeth Another suborder Zeuglodontia is extinct The Sirenia were formerly included in the Cetacea but are now made a separate order ♦ the last but one ♦ the Mysticete or whalebone whales having no true teeth after birth but with a series of plates of whalebone see Baleen hanging down from the upper jaw on each side thus making a strainer through which they receive the small animals upon which they feed ♦ the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak ♦ the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth ♦ the whole truth and nothing but the truth ♦ there is no god but god ♦ To doubt not but ♦ Top and but ♦ who but he?. Additional references. | |
| Hyphenated Usage | |
Beginning with "but": But-benjamin, but-for, but-for-the-grace-of-bevan-there-go-i, but-i, but-it, but-the, But-thorn, but-when. | |
Ending with "but": b-but. | |
Containing "but": affluent-but-screwed-up, all-but-island, all-but-lost, all-but-naked, all-but-spoken, all-but-sterile, all-but-written, announced-but-not-available, anything-but-carefree, anything-but-free, anything-but-lovable, anything-but-ragged, boring-but-sometimes-funny, burned-but-browned, can-but-wo, chic-but-not-denim, christ-this-is-so-delicious-it-seems-a-shame-to-go-on-about-it-but-i-feel-it-is-my-duty, cross-but-trying-to-be-helpful, distant-but-polite, down-on-his-luck-but-permanently, equal-but-different, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink, ex-next-door-but-one, hard-but-fair, i-am-not-really-dead-but-just-popped-out-for-a-packet-of-fags, independent-but-dying-to-be-subservient, kind-of-casual-but-vamp, last-but-one, living-but-dead, midrange-but-still-pricey, much-improved-but-still-trashy, naughty-but-nice, next-but-one, next-door-but-one, nice-but-dim, oh-so-clever-oh-so-knowing-but-oh, positive-but-need-to-be-paid-for-it, rough-and-crusty-but-it'll-wash-off-by-monday-morning, scatty-but-obedient, slow-but-sure, soft-but-powerful, tell-nothing-but-know-everything, they-can-run-but-they-can't-hide, useful-but-dull, voidable-but-not-avoided. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "but"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Afrikaans | maar (however, nevertheless, yet), nietemin (however, nevertheless, yet), egter (however, nevertheless, yet), behalwe (apart from, besides, except, except for, other, other than). (various references) | |
Albanian | por (however, nevertheless, yet). (various references) | |
Arabic | ما عدا (bar, except, excepting, excluding, exclusively, save), لكن (however, nevertheless, only, probably, yours), غير (beyond, budge, change, commute, fashion, masquerade, metamorphose, mis, modify, modulate, non, overrun, rehash, renew, reverse, revise, shape, shift, switch, switch over, than, transfer, transpose, turn, un-), سوى (accommodate, adjust, compose, compound, dispose, equalize, equate, even, flatten, normalize, patch, regularize, settle, smooth, straighten), إلا هو, إلا (except, save, unless), ألا. (various references) | |
Basque | baina. (various references) | |
Breton | met. (various references) | |
Bulgarian | само (auto, barely, entirely, just, merely, nothing but, only, purely, simply, solely), с изключение на (barring, except, excepting, excluding, outside, save, with reservation of), казвам 'но', възразявам (except, expostulate, object, quarrel, remonstrate, reply, take up, talk back), освен (all but, apart from, aside from, bating, beside, beyond, except, excepting, exclusive of, in addition to, other, over and above, saving, than, therewithal), обаче (however, tho', though, yet), но (only, yet), едва (barely, faintly, fine, hardly, just, lightly, narrowly, scarce, scarcely), ама, ала. (various references) | |
Catalan | però, excepte (apart from, except, other than). (various references) | |
Chinese | 但 (however, merely, only, still, yet). (various references) | |
Croatian | ali. (various references) | |
Czech | ale (however, only, though). (various references) | |
Danish | men. (various references) | |
Dutch | maar (alone, exclusively, however, just, nevertheless, only, solely, untranslated here, yet), doch. (various references) | |
Esperanto | sed. (various references) | |
Estonian | aga. (various references) | |
Faeroese | men, kortini (however, nevertheless, yet). (various references) | |
Farsi | فقط (Alone, Mere, Only), مگر (Except, Unless), نه تنها, لیکن , ولی (Though, Warden, Yet), جز (Forby, Retail), اما (However), بی , بطورمحض , باستثنای (Except), بدون (Without). (various references) | |
Finnish | mutta. (various references) | |
Flemish | maar (only). (various references) | |
French | mais, pourtant, cependant. (various references) | |
French Canadian | mais. (various references) | |
Frisian |
