① all but意为“差不多，几乎”，相当于almost。
This is all but impossible. 这几乎是不可能的。
The explorers were all but frozen when they were found. 探险队员们被发现时，几乎冻僵了。
提示
all but还可表示“除了……全部都”。
All but one will go there. 除一人外都将去那里。
② anything but意为“决非，并不，决不”，相当于not at all，far from。
It is anything but cheap. 这决不便宜。
It is anything but pleasant to be caught in the rain. 遭雨淋并不是愉快的事。
The man is anything but honest. 这人一点也不诚实。
The room is anything but sunny. 这房间阳光并不充足。
He is anything but an expert. 他绝不是什么专家。
提示
anything but还可表示“除……之外什么都，只不”。
I'll do anything but that. 除了那件事外，我什么都干。
③ nothing but意为“不过是，只有，单单”。
He said nothing but laugh. 他笑而不言。
Genius is nothing but labour and diligence. 天才无非是劳动加勤奋。
A hundred and fifty years ago，Shanghai was nothing but a small unknown town.
150年前，上海不过是个小小的无名小镇。
He does nothing but sit idle all day long. 他整天闲坐着，什么也不干。
It is nothing but rubbish. 这无非是垃圾。