by no means

adverb

definitely not (Freq. 15)

-

the prize is by no means certain

-

and that isn't all, not by a long sight

• Syn: ↑not by a long sight, ↑not by a blame sight

• Ant: ↑by all means

• Usage Domain: ↑colloquialism

* * *

NOT AT ALL, in no way, not in the least, not in the slightest, not the least bit, not by a long shot, certainly not, absolutely not, definitely not, on no account, under no circumstances; Brit. not by a long chalk; informal no way.

→ means

* * *

adverb or by no manner of means

: in no way : not at all : certainly not

* * *

by no means

● mean

* * *

by no means phrase

used as a way of emphasizing a negative statement

It was by no means excellent but still better than last year.

I wouldn’t say I was an expert, not by any means.

Thesaurus: ways of saying no_synonym

Main entry: means

* * *

(or by no manner of means) not at all; certainly not

the outcome is by no means guaranteed

* * *

by no means (or not by any means also not by any manner of means)

: in no way : not at all

It's by no means certain that he'll come. = It's not by any means certain that he'll come.

This is by no means the first time we have had this problem.

I was not happy about the arrangements by any means, but I agreed to do it.

This issue has not been resolved yet by any manner of means.

• • •

Main Entry: ↑means

* * *

by ˈno means | not by ˈany (manner of) means idiom

not at all

•

She is by no means an inexperienced teacher.

•

We haven't won yet, not by any means.

Main entry: ↑means_idiom