Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[yoshi-pooh]

Hi, everyone.
I'm sorry I gave a wrong title to my last question.
This time, the question is really about "nothing but".

When you say "Age is nothing but a number", I think it means "Age is no more than a number."

However, does it mean the same thing when you say, "John Lennon was nothing but a poet"? This sounds to me you're saying, "John Lennon was no less than a poet."

I understand "nothing but" normally means "only" when it comes after linking verbs like "be". But I don't think this is always true with no exception.

Does "nothing but" can be used to give a positive evaluation? Or my understanding is wrong?

Thank you!

yoshi-pooh

PS
"A fashion is nothing but an induced epidemic."(Bernard Show)
In this case, does "nothing but" mean "only"?

[Mister Micawber]

.
Hi Yoshi,

Sorry, but I cannot agree with you. Nothing but sounds only like only to me.

Perhaps you are subconsciously confusing it with not just/not simply: John Lennon was not just/not simply a poet.
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's