John, >From thefreedictionary: all but something 1. everyone or everything except those mentioned "All but the weakest plants survived the hot weather. " 2. almost "In some places, bus service has all but disappeared."
I knew the first meaning, so you used the second? Kees. "John Gilmore" <jwgli...@gmail.com> wrote in message news:<cae1xxdeisp_eibjojoxusuuunwjxtbpyhzoaxmtcxlqksdm...@mail.gmail.com >... > Kees, > > "All but impossible" means "very nearly impossible", "impossible > without very great difficulties", and the like. > > Natural languages have their vagaries. > > --jg > > > > >> "John Gilmore" <jwgli...@gmail.com> wrote in message > >> news:<cae1xxdgkeifuz_exyrjq6rwudpppdkxrkp_8ueepobvx_mm...@mail.gmail.com > >> >... > >> > As usual, OCO makes an external judgment "all but impossible". > >> > >> To check my understanding of English: doesn't this in fact mean: > >> "possible"? > >> > >> Kees. > >> ******************************************************** For information, services and offers, please visit our web site: http://www.klm.com. This e-mail and any attachment may contain confidential and privileged material intended for the addressee only. If you are not the addressee, you are notified that no part of the e-mail or any attachment may be disclosed, copied or distributed, and that any other action related to this e-mail or attachment is strictly prohibited, and may be unlawful. If you have received this e-mail by error, please notify the sender immediately by return e-mail, and delete this message. Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij NV (KLM), its subsidiaries and/or its employees shall not be liable for the incorrect or incomplete transmission of this e-mail or any attachments, nor responsible for any delay in receipt. Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (also known as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines) is registered in Amstelveen, The Netherlands, with registered number 33014286 ******************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
