核心问题
我总是搞不清 all but 与 anything but 的含义。
词典解答
最好是把 all but 与 anything but 联系起来记。前者意为“几乎”“差点儿没”（almost, nearly）；后者意为“根本不是”，是对事物或性质的全面否定：all but polite( = 几乎是有礼貌的)，anything but polite( = 毫无礼貌）。
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She all but fainted when she heard the news. (Worrall) 当她听到这个消息时, 她差点儿晕了过去。
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The little bridge is anything but safe. (LDCE) 这个小桥一点儿也不安全。
Woman: Everybody is helping out with dinner. Would you make the salad?
Man: Anything but that.
Third voice: What does the man mean?
A. He doesn't want any dinner. B. He will do anything to help.
C. He prefers another job. D. He can't eat salad. (TOEFL)
can but 见 can
hardly... but 见 never... but
may... but 见 may... but