It's all but gone!!!

Does that mean it's gone, almost gone, or not gone?

Almost gone
But don't ask me to explain it!

Try, instead, " He was all but dead when we found him" That doesn't mean he was very much alive The phrase 'all but' meaning 'almost' or 'practically' is long established in English.

'But' meaning 'if not' is archaic now. This usage of 'all but' seems related by descent from it. That is 'all but gone' and 'all but dead' mean 'everything or all, if not gone/dead'.

The word is derived from an Old English word butan meaning 'without'and 'outside' and 'except', which are three different expressions of the same idea. So it is no surprise that 'but' itself has acquired several,though related, meanings .Look:

'we never go out but it rains' [without it being the case that]
'we saved all but one of the pigs' [except]
'but for you we'd never have come' [were it not]
'he was hurt but didn't cry' [contrary to expectation; wholly exceptionally]

though what we are to make of 'my, but you're a fine looking woman !' who knows?

[Source of etymology: Collins English Dictionary]

quote:

Originally posted by FredPuli:
though what we are to make of 'my, but you're a fine looking woman !'

Fred
In Ireland they do say that a lot
also the classic variation My, you're a Fine figure of a woman
Us Men seem to have nothing said about us in the same manner

quote:

Originally posted by bedstor:

quote:

Originally posted by FredPuli:
though what we are to make of 'my, but you're a fine looking woman !'

Fred
In Ireland they do say that a lot
also the classic variation My, you're a Fine figure of a woman
Us Men seem to have nothing said about us in the same manner

Yes, of 'ifs and buts' we only get the 'ifs' from the women :

" IF you were less of a fool...!"
" IF you really cared..."

See...there was a reason I told ya not to ask me to explain it!
Man Fred, I'm reeling from your knowledge. You did good...er....well!

Thanks Georgia and Fred!!!