but
[bʌt]conjunction
1. | [to express contrast]
mais
my husband smokes, but I don't mon mari fume, mais moi non |
2. | [in exclamations]
mais
but that's absurd! mais c'est absurde! |
3. | [when addressing somebody politely]
sorry, but I think that's my umbrella pardon, mais je crois que c'est mon parapluie |
4. | [used for emphasis]
nobody, but nobody, gets in without a ticket personne, absolument personne n'entre sans ticket |
5. | [except, only]
mais
it tastes like a grapefruit, but sweeter ça a le goût d'un pamplemousse, mais en plus sucré |
6. | (literary)
barely a day goes by but he receives another invitation il ne se passe pas un jour sans qu'il reçoive une nouvelle invitation |
but
[bʌt]adverb
1. | [only]
ne... que
I can but try je ne peux qu'essayer his resignation cannot but confirm such suspicions (formal) sa démission ne fait que confirmer de tels soupçons |
2. | (US & informal)
[used for emphasis]
et
get them down here but fast! descends-les et vite! |
but
[bʌt]preposition
1. | [except]
sauf, à part
she wouldn't see anyone but her lawyer elle ne voulait voir personne sauf or à part son avocat nothing but a miracle could have saved her seul un miracle aurait pu la sauver |
2. | (UK)
[with numbers]
turn right at the next corner but one tournez à droite au deuxième carrefour I was the last but two to finish j'étais l'avant-avant-dernier à finir |
but
[bʌt]noun
you're coming and no buts! tu viens, et pas de mais!
but for
phrasal preposition
sans
but for her courage, many more people would have drowned sans son courage, il y aurait eu beaucoup plus de noyés
but that
conjunctival phrase
(formal)
I do not doubt but that we shall succeed je ne doute pas de notre réussite
but then
phrasal adverb
enfin
but then, that's just the way it goes enfin, c'est comme ça