| 释义 |
no ifs or buts (about it) no ifs or butsWithout excuses, compromises, or caveats of any kind. Clean up your toys right now, young man—no ifs or buts!See also: but, if, nono ifs or buts (about it)1. Without a doubt or reservation. We're definitely going to lose our jobs after this merger, no ifs or buts about it.2. Absolutely no excuses, discussion, or protestations (about something). I don't care how, but you make sure you're at your son's party tomorrow—no ifs or buts about it! No ifs or buts—just do as I tell you!See also: but, if, nono ifs or butsAlso, no ifs, ands, or buts. No reservations, restrictions, or excuses, as in You'd better be there tomorrow, and no ifs, ands, or buts about it. This expression uses the conjunctions to stand for the conditions and objections that they introduce. The earliest phrase to appear was ifs and ands in the 1600s. This phrase is actually an emphatic redundancy, for and often meant "if." But was tacked on to this pair soon afterward. See also: but, if, no |