Meaning of ifs, ands, or buts | Babel Free

Definitions

Modifications, limitations, or addenda; qualifications of any kind; speculations about whether a particular idea or enterprise is good.

plural, plural-only

Equivalents

Examples

“1867, The Frankfort Commonwealth, Frankfort, Kentucky. August 30, 1867, p. 3. Some of those elected on the Rebel Democratic ticket, at the opening of the war, in the interest of the traitors to the Government, professed to be "Union men, without any ifs, ands, or buts."”

“1947, Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire, Dramatists Play Service, Inc. (1952), →ISBN, page 29, BLANCHE. That must’ve been what happened. ¶ STANLEY. I don’t want no ifs, ands or buts! What’s all the rest of the papers?”

“1962, advertisement, in Popular Science, Popular Science Publishing Company, page 175, There are no gimmicks. There are No Exceptions, No Exclusions, No Limitations, waiting periods, no ifs, ands or buts.”

“I think individuals do a better job than agencies because agencies have a lot of' ifs, ands or buts' because of insurance.”

“A relationship with a grandmother doesn't contain the same ifs, ands, or buts of a mother-daughter pairing.”

“2007, Walt Love, The Gospel According to Rev. Walt "Baby" Love: Inspirations and Meditations from the Gospel Radio Legend, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 32, There are no ifs, ands, or buts if we are going to stand on the promises found in the Holy Bible.”

CEFR level