not : Idioms & Phrases

Index

Can not choose but

  • must necessarily.
Webster 1913

cape forget-me-not

  • noun anchusa of southern Africa having blue to red-purple flowers
    Anchusa riparia.
  • noun anchusa of southern Africa having blue flowers with white throats
    Anchusa capensis.
WordNet

chinese forget-me-not

  • noun biennial east Asian herb grown for its usually bright blue flowers
    Cynoglossum amabile.
WordNet

forget-me-not

  • noun small perennial herb having bright blue or white flowers
    mouse ear; Myosotis scorpiodes.
WordNet
For*get"-me-not` noun
Etymology
Cf. G. vergissmeinnicht.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A small herb, of the genus Myosotis (M. palustris, incespitosa, etc.), bearing a beautiful blue flower, and extensively considered the emblem of fidelity. ✍ Formerly the name was given to the Ajuga Chamæpitus.
Webster 1913

garden forget-me-not

  • noun small biennial to perennial herb of Europe, northern Africa and western Asia having blue, purple or white flowers
    Myosotis sylvatica.
WordNet

have-not

  • noun a person with few or no possessions
    poor person.
WordNet

if not

  • adverb perhaps; indicating possibility of being more remarkable (greater or better or sooner) than
    • will yield 10% if not more
    • pretty if not actually beautiful
    • let's meet tonight if not sooner
WordNet

last but not least

  • adverb in addition to all the foregoing
    last but not least.
    • last not least he plays the saxophone
WordNet

last not least

  • adverb in addition to all the foregoing
    last but not least.
    • last not least he plays the saxophone
WordNet

more often than not

  • adverb usually; as a rule
    by and large; generally; mostly.
    • by and large it doesn't rain much here
WordNet

Not . . . but, ∨ Not but

  • only. Obs. or Colloq.
Webster 1913

not bad

  • adjective satellite very good
    groovy; dandy; corking; bully; swell; smashing; great; keen; slap-up; neat; cracking; nifty; peachy; bang-up.
    • he did a bully job
    • a neat sports car
    • had a great time at the party
    • you look simply smashing
WordNet

not by a blame sight

  • adverb definitely not
    by no means; not by a blame sight.
    • the prize is by no means certain
    • and that isn't all, not by a long sight
WordNet

not by a long sight

  • adverb definitely not
    by no means; not by a blame sight.
    • the prize is by no means certain
    • and that isn't all, not by a long sight
WordNet

not guilty

  • adjective satellite declared not guilty of a specific offense or crime; legally blameless
    acquitted.
    • he stands acquitted on all charges
    • the jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity
WordNet

not intrusive

  • adjective not interfering or meddling
    unintrusive.
WordNet

not surprised

  • adjective not surprised or expressing surprise
    unsurprised.
    • that unsuprised obstinate look on his face
WordNet

not to mention

  • adverb much less
    let alone.
    • she can't boil potatoes, let alone cook a meal
WordNet

Not worth a cress, ∨ "not worth a kers."

  • a common old proverb, now turned into the meaningless "not worth a curse." Skeat.
Webster 1913

not-for-profit

  • noun an organization chartered for other than profit-making activities
    nonprofit organization; nonprofit.
WordNet

not-pated

Not"-pat`ed, Nott"-pat`ed adjective (Also<
  • Not-pated
  • Nott-pated
)
Definitions
  1. Same as Nott-headed. Obs. Shak.
Webster 1913

To doubt not but

  • .
    I do not doubt but I have been to blame. Dryden.
    We doubt not now But every rub is smoothed on our way. Shak.
    That is, we have no doubt to prevent us from believing, etc. (or notwithstanding all that may be said to the contrary) but having a preventive sense, after verbs of "doubting" and "denying" that convey a notion of hindrance. E. A. Abbott.
Webster 1913

touch-me-not

  • noun North American annual plant with usually yellow or orange flowers; grows chiefly on wet rather acid soil
    celandine; lady's earrings; orange balsam; jewelweed; Impatiens capensis.
  • noun Mediterranean vine having oblong fruit that when ripe expels its seeds and juice violently when touched
    Ecballium elaterium; squirting cucumber; exploding cucumber.
  • noun prostrate or semi-erect subshrub of tropical America, and Australia; heavily armed with recurved thorns and having sensitive soft grey-green leaflets that fold and droop at night or when touched or cooled
    live-and-die; sensitive plant; action plant; Mimosa pudica; humble plant; shame plant.
WordNet
Touch"-me-not` noun
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) (a) See Impatiens. (b) Squirting cucumber. See under Cucumber.
Webster 1913

Were it not for, ∨ If it were not for

  • leaving out of account; but for the presence or action of. "Moral consideration can no way move the sensible appetite, were it not for the will." Sir M. Hale.
Webster 1913

why-not

Why"-not` noun
Definitions
  1. A violent and peremptory procedure without any assigned reason; a sudden conclusive happening. Obs.
    When the church Was taken with a why-not in the lurch. Hudibras.
    This game . . . was like to have been lost with a why-not. Nugæ Antiq.
Webster 1913