all but
fixed phr..fixed phr.. almost or nearly. You use this to say that something is so close to being true that the difference does not matter.
fixed phr.. an adverbial phrase meaning 'nearly' or 'almost entirely'; it functions as a degree modifier for adjectives, verbs, or nouns to indicate a state that is virtually complete.
The game is all but over now.
By the time the rescue team arrived, the old wooden bridge had all but disappeared into the river.
The once-dominant political party has all but vanished from the national stage following a series of scandals and internal divisions.
usually placed before an adjective or a past participle to emphasize that a state is nearly reached.
explain that 'all but' functions as a single unit meaning 'almost'; students often try to translate the words literally, which leads to confusion about the 'but' part.
The work is all but finished yet.The work is all but finished.since 'all but' means 'almost', it describes a state that has nearly happened, so adding 'yet' creates a logical contradiction.