Idiom idiom
nothing but
Meaning
only one thing and nothing else. You use this to emphasize that a situation or person is completely one way.
Examples
“The box contained nothing but old books.”
“After the long hike, the view from the top was nothing but beautiful mountains in every direction.”
“The politician promised change, but his speech offered nothing but empty words and tired excuses that failed to address the public's concerns.”
Origin
disputed origin
disputed origin
From Middle English nothyng but, from Old English nan þing butan
Last updated April 22, 2026