Nothing but / anything but

Question

Hi!I know he failed his last test, but he really is nothing / anything / everything but stupid.What is the difference between "anything" or "everything" ??Thank you

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

use
anything
here

He isn't at all stupid.

Aperisic · Answer

Emily__
Hi!

I know he failed his last test, but he really is nothing / anything / everything but stupid.

What is the difference between "anything" or "everything" ??

Thank you

I know he failed his last test, but he really is nothing but stupid. = I know he failed his last test, but he really is stupid.

I know he failed his last test, but he really is anything but stupid.= I know he failed his last test, but he really is everything but stupid. = I know he failed his last test, but he really is not stupid.

He could be anything but stupid. = He could be anything except stupid. (more common)

He could be everything but a driver. = He could be everything except a driver.

To my ear everything is more concrete

It is everything but x
It could not be x
It is anything but x
It has not the quality x or It has no quality that x has

BarbaraPA · Answer

"Anything but" is the common expression.

Nothing but / anything but

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