# not by any means

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/not-by-any-means
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Not at all, not in the slightest

## Examples

- This is not by any means an easy task.
- The project is not by any means finished, so we need to keep working through the weekend.
- The evidence provided is not by any means sufficient to prove his guilt, leaving the jury with significant doubts about the case.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.