Ok, here is a literary question

[Tahrann]

Many of you have read books that have the phase of "...all but..." as in "all but winning", "all but dead" ect. ect., but wouldn't that mean everything but that thing is happening to them? Instead I am reading books with this phase and they mean "they are winning", "he is dead". Can someone explain this to me?

[Silverhawk79]

The authors are usually just lazy.

[britneymahboy]

No, I haven't.  What books?

[Doodle]

*shrugs*

[Java]

"All but" can also be used to say "almost" or "practically".

Ex. "That man is all but dead." would mean "That man is practically dead."
He's very close to dying, but he hasn't died yet.

[Totla]

The authors are usually just lazy.

What's worse is when they use "one thing led to another."
Hitler was rejected from art school, one thing led to another, and six millions Jews were killed.

[Tahrann]

"All but" can also be used to say "almost" or "practically".

Ex. "That man is all but dead." would mean "That man is practically dead."
He's very close to dying, but he hasn't died yet.

Ah, ty Java

[Silverhawk79]

The authors are usually just lazy.

What's worse is when they use "one thing led to another."
Hitler was rejected from art school, one thing led to another, and six millions Jews were killed.

Quit stealing Colbert Report jokes. >:(

[Java]

"All but" can also be used to say "almost" or "practically".

Ex. "That man is all but dead." would mean "That man is practically dead."
He's very close to dying, but he hasn't died yet.

Ah, ty Java

No problem.  :robotveryhappy:

[Level_9_Chao]

"Second to none" confused me forever. Like, if you're second to none, it makes it seem like you suck so bad, you can even come in second place to nothing, something worthless.

[Gwen Khan]

another strange line is "Six Of One, A Half Dozen Of The Other"

[Shujinco2]

Yes, I've seen that too, and it kinda bothers me.

[Sgt.Chilly]

did you mean to use the word 'phrase'?