Etymology Journal ยท N
No ifs, ands, or buts about it
Meaning
- This is an emphatic way to state that a situation is a settled fact. It leaves no room for disagreement or doubt.
Assertive, definitive
Used in a sentence
- That was the best meal I have ever had, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
- He is the best person for the job, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
- We are moving to the city, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
The backstory
This is a grammatical expansion of the previous phrase, designed to add extra weight to a firm statement. It is a common rhetorical flourish in American English.
Heard in
Nationwide
Vibe check