but for

but for
1) except for something

The work was now complete, but for a final coat of paint.

2) used for saying that something would have happened if something else or someone had not prevented it

Lee would certainly have been included in the team, but for his recent injury.

But for your timely warning, we would have been unaware of the danger.


English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • but for — See: EXCEPT FOR …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • but for — See: EXCEPT FOR …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • but for — preposition Date: 12th century except for …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • There but for Fortune — Infobox Album Name = There but for Fortune Type = compilation Artist = Phil Ochs Released = 1989 Recorded = 1964 1966 Genre = Folk Length = Label = Producer = Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|4.25|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg… …   Wikipedia

  • But — (b[u^]t), prep., adv. & conj. [OE. bute, buten, AS. b[=u]tan, without, on the outside, except, besides; pref. be + [=u]tan outward, without, fr. [=u]t out. Primarily, b[=u]tan, as well as [=u]t, is an adverb. [root]198. See {By}, {Out}; cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • But and if — But But (b[u^]t), prep., adv. & conj. [OE. bute, buten, AS. b[=u]tan, without, on the outside, except, besides; pref. be + [=u]tan outward, without, fr. [=u]t out. Primarily, b[=u]tan, as well as [=u]t, is an adverb. [root]198. See {By}, {Out};… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • But if — But But (b[u^]t), prep., adv. & conj. [OE. bute, buten, AS. b[=u]tan, without, on the outside, except, besides; pref. be + [=u]tan outward, without, fr. [=u]t out. Primarily, b[=u]tan, as well as [=u]t, is an adverb. [root]198. See {By}, {Out};… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • For — For, prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D. voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. f[ u]r, Icel. fyrir, Sw. f[ o]r, Dan. for, adv. f[ o]r, Goth. fa[ u]r, fa[ u]ra, L. pro, Gr. ?, Skr. pra . [root] 202. Cf. {Fore}, {First},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • For — For, prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D. voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. f[ u]r, Icel. fyrir, Sw. f[ o]r, Dan. for, adv. f[ o]r, Goth. fa[ u]r, fa[ u]ra, L. pro, Gr. ?, Skr. pra . [root] 202. Cf. {Fore}, {First},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • For all me — For For, prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D. voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. f[ u]r, Icel. fyrir, Sw. f[ o]r, Dan. for, adv. f[ o]r, Goth. fa[ u]r, fa[ u]ra, L. pro, Gr. ?, Skr. pra . [root] 202. Cf. {Fore}, {First},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • For all that — For For, prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D. voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. f[ u]r, Icel. fyrir, Sw. f[ o]r, Dan. for, adv. f[ o]r, Goth. fa[ u]r, fa[ u]ra, L. pro, Gr. ?, Skr. pra . [root] 202. Cf. {Fore}, {First},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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