Idiom · C1 · Neutral to formal · emphatic
by no means
bye noh MEENZ Means carries the main stress; no is often stressed too for a firm denial.
Emphasize that something is definitely not true, complete, easy, certain, or otherwise the case.
nipošto; nikako; ni u kom slučaju; ni izdaleka
Use it
The first test was encouraging, but the treatment is by no means proven.
The phrase strongly blocks an overconfident conclusion.
By no means does a quiet response imply that she agrees.
At the front of a clause, the negative expression triggers subject–auxiliary inversion.
Build the sentence
be / seem + by no means + adjective · by no means + verb
Memory scene
Every possible road to YES is crossed out: by no route, method, or means can the claim reach true.
Watch out
Do not add another negative in standard English: say It is by no means easy, not It isn't by no means easy. When the phrase begins the clause, use inversion: By no means does this prove the claim.
Nearby language
The closest everyday alternative and usually less formal.
Weaker: it leaves the possibility open, while by no means strongly rejects the statement.
Normally prohibits an action in every situation rather than denying that a description is true.
Make it yours
Prvi rezultat obećava, ali nikako ne dokazuje da je ceo postupak uspešan.