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I Bət Piece Make Good Word Intriguing Cinema

Word but
WordType (conjunction)
Phonetic BrE / bət / NAmE / bət /
Example
  • i got it wrong. it wasn't the red one but the blue one.
  • his mother won't be there, but his father might.
  • it isn't that he lied exactly, but he does tend to exaggerate.
  • i'd asked everybody but only two people came.
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but

(conjunction)BrE / bət / NAmE / bət /
  1. used to introduce a word or phrase that contrasts with what was said before
    • I got it wrong. It wasn't the red one but the blue one.
    • His mother won't be there, but his father might.
    • It isn't that he lied exactly, but he does tend to exaggerate.
  2. however; despite this
    • I'd asked everybody but only two people came.
    • By the end of the day we were tired but happy.
    • While the film is undoubtedly too long, it is nevertheless an intriguing piece of cinema.
    • It can be argued that the movie is too long. It is nonetheless an intriguing piece of cinema.
    • The film is undoubtedly too long. Still, it is an intriguing piece of cinema.
    • Of course, huge chunks of the book have been sacrificed in order to make a two-hour movie, but it is nevertheless a successful piece of storytelling.
    • Critics are wrong to argue that the film’s plot is too complicated. Certainly there are a couple of major twists, but audiences will have no difficulty following them.
    • It is true that you cannot make a good movie without a good script, but it is equally true that a talented director can make a good script into an excellent film.
    • It remains to be seen whether these two movies herald a new era of westerns, but there is no doubt that they represent welcome additions to the genre.
  3. used when you are saying sorry about something
    • I'm sorry but I can't stay any longer.
  4. used to introduce a statement that shows that you are surprised or annoyed, or that you disagree
    • But that's not possible!
    • ‘Here's the money I owe you.’ ‘But that's not right—it was only £10.’
  5. except
    • I had no choice but to sign the contract.
  6. used before repeating a word in order to emphasize it
    • Nothing, but nothing would make him change his mind.
  7. used to emphasize that something is always true
    • She never passed her old home but she thought of the happy years she had spent there (= she always thought of them).
  8. if it were not for
    • He would have played but for a knee injury.
  9. except for
    • The square was empty but for a couple of cabs.
  10. however; on the other hand
    • He might agree. But then again he might have a completely different opinion.
  11. used before a statement that explains or gives a reason for what has just been said
    • She speaks very good Italian. But then she did live in Rome for a year (= so it's not surprising).
  12. used to show that everything else is impossible except the thing that you are saying
    • What could he do but forgive her? (= that was the only thing possible)

    Word Origin

    • Old English be-ūtan, būtan, būta ‘outside, without, except’ (see by, out).
Copyright This card's content is collected from the following dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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