Anything but

If you say, someone or something is anything but a particular quality, it means they are opposite of that quality. The phrase “Anything but” can be used to express both positive or negative qualities. For e.g. if we say, she is anything but rude, it means she is not at all rude but very polite, which makes it a compliment. However, if we say, she is anything but polite, it means she is impolite and is a negative trait.

Some Excerpts:

Excerpts from popular TV shows and movies:

Desperate Housewives

The following excerpt is taken directly from a popular TV show “Desperate Housewives” to show the usage of the phrase “anything but” in everyday talk.
Steven Culp(Rex Van De Kamp) used the phrase “anything but” while talking to Marcia Cross(Bree Van De Kamp) in episode two -”AH, BUT UNDERNEATH” of season 1 of Desperate Housewives, as shown in the following picture.

Tags: Desperate Housewives, Marcia Cross