ENGLISH
REFERENCE

none other than

idiom
Meaning

Used to qualify a person whose eminence may be more than one would expect in the given situation.


Origin

disputed origin

From Middle English non other than.

Examples
SIMPLE

The guest is none other than the famous singer.

CONTEXTUAL

I turned around and saw that the person standing behind me was none other than my old teacher.

COMPLEX

To the surprise of the entire audience, the mysterious benefactor who funded the project was revealed to be none other than the reclusive author herself.

Anchors to
Related idioms7entries
  1. 01

    bar none

    Without exception; excluding nothing else of the same kind.

  2. 02

    Buckley's and none

    A supposed two chances (probabilities), being Buckley's chance (meaning a very small chance) or no chance at all.

  3. 03

    have none of something

    To be completely unwilling to accept or support something.

  4. 04

    it's none of your business

    It's a matter (especially a private or personal one) that you are not entitled to be involved in or informed about.

  5. 05

    jack of all trades, master of none

    A person who has a competent grasp of many skills but who is not outstanding in any one.

  6. 06

    none of someone's business

    A matter (especially a private or personal one) that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.

  7. 07

    none the wiser

    Not at all aware of something that has happened; oblivious to an incident or occurrence.

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