Not at all

Meaning

"Not at all" is an idiomatic expression that means "not at all, not even a little bit". It can also mean "absolutely not, by no means", or "by no stretch of the imagination". This expression is used to emphasize the negation of something.

Usage

• I asked my friend if they wanted to go out for coffee, and they replied, "Not at all, I'm too tired tonight."
• My boss said that we couldn't possibly complete the project on time, but I assured them, "Not at all, we can finish it early if we work hard."
• The student said that they didn't need any help with their homework, and I replied, "Not at all, I was just offering to help if you needed it."
• My friend told me that they didn't like the restaurant we were planning to go to, and I said, "Not at all, there are plenty of other places to choose from."
• The chef said that they couldn't make the dish that the customer wanted, and the customer replied, "Not at all, I can have something else. Please suggest something."

Roots and History

The phrase "not at all" has been in use since the 16th century. It was used to indicate complete negation of something. The earliest known use of this expression is found in the Oxford English Dictionary. Over time, the meaning of this expression has remained fairly consistent, but it has become more commonly used in everyday language.

Synonyms in English

• Not at all = Absolutely not = Definitely not = No way = Not possible
• Not at all = In no way = Not in the slightest = Not by any means = Not in any shape or form
• Not at all = Under no circumstances = By no stretch of the imagination = Not a chance = Not even remotely

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - Nada, nada (meaning "nothing, nothing")
• French - Absolument pas (meaning "absolutely not")
• German - Komplett nicht (meaning "completely not")
• Italian - Non al tutto (meaning "not at all")
• Russian - Абсолютно нет (meaning "absolutely not")

Similar Idioms

• to see the back of

• as busy as a bee

• up to the mark