you cannot not but …

you cannot not but …
you cannot/could not but… idiom
(formal) used to show that everything else is impossible except the thing that you are saying

What could he do but forgive her?

(= that was the only thing possible)
Main entry:butidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • you could not but … — you cannot/could not but… idiom (formal) used to show that everything else is impossible except the thing that you are saying • What could he do but forgive her? (= that was the only thing possible) Main entry: ↑butidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • You shall not steal — is one of the Ten Commandments,[1] of the Torah (the Pentateuch), which are widely understood as moral imperatives by legal scholars, Jewish scholars, Catholic scholars, and Post Reformation scholars.[2] Though usually understood to prohibit the… …   Wikipedia

  • You shall not murder — The Sixth Commandment, as translated by the Book of Common Prayer (1549). The image is from the altar screen of the Temple Church near the Law Courts in London. You shall not murder or You shall not kill, KJV Thou shalt not kill (LXX οὐ φονεύσεις …   Wikipedia

  • you cannot put an old head on young shoulders — 1591 H. SMITH Preparative to Marriage 14 It is not good grafting of an olde head vppon young shoulders, for they will neuer beare it willingly but grudgingly. 1794 E. DRINKER Journal 31 Dec. (1889) 256 ’Tis not the way I could wish my children to …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • you cannot catch old birds with chaff — The wise and experienced are not easily fooled. 1481 CAXTON Reynard the Fox (1880) xl. Wenest [do you think] thou thus to deceyue... I am no byrde to be locked ne take by chaf. I know wel ynowh good corn. c 1590 Timon (1842) IV. ii. ’Tis well. An …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • you cannot get a quart into a pint pot — A quart is an imperial measure of two pints. The metaphorical phrase to get (or put) a quart into a pint pot is also used. 1896 Daily News 23 July 4 They had been too ambitious. They had attempted what he might describe in homely phrase as… …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • when the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten, and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money — Native American saying. 1983 H. WASSERMAN America Born and Reborn 277 ‘When you have polluted the last river,’ goes an Osage saying, ‘when you have caught the very last fish, and when you have cut down the very last tree, it is too bad that then …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • If You're Not Famous at Fourteen, You're Finished — Infobox Single Name = If You re Not Famous At Fourteen, You re Finished Caption = Artist = TISM from Album = De RigueurMortis A side = B side = Released = 2001 Format = CD Single Recorded = 2001 Genre = Alternative rock Length = ??:?? Label =… …   Wikipedia

  • but — 1 conjunction strong /bVt/ 1 in spite of something, or not as you would expect: The situation looked desperate but they didn t give up hope. | The car was very cheap but it s been extremely reliable. 2 used to add another statement to one that… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • cannot — can|not [ kæ,nat, kə nat ] modal verb *** the negative form of CAN. The less formal way of saying and writing this is can t: Please don t tell me what I can and cannot do! What if the parties cannot agree? You cannot escape the law. cannot (help) …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”