Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors. 2013.
cannot (help) but — formal phrase to have no choice except to do something You cannot help but like her. As I look back over my career, I cannot but smile. Thesaurus: choices and the process of choosingsynonym Main entry … Useful english dictionary
cannot help but — is an increasingly common construction and perhaps now may be said to carry the weight of idiom, but it is also unnecessarily wordy and a little irregular. You cannot help but notice what a bad name deregulation has with voters (Economist)… … Dictionary of troublesome word
cannot help but — phrasal see cannot but … New Collegiate Dictionary
cannot help but — phrasal : cannot but … Useful english dictionary
cannot help — he could not help laughing: BE UNABLE TO STOP, be unable to refrain from, be unable to keep from. → help * * * cannot help ● help * * * cannot help 1 ◇ If you cannot help yourself, you cannot control your actions or stop yourself from doing… … Useful english dictionary
help but — See cannot help but … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
cannot (can't) help but — In this expression, but should be omitted because its use results in a double negative (cannot, or can t, and but). Instead of saying I can t help but think you are mistaken, say I can t help thinking you are mistaken, a more concise statement… … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
(cannot) can't help but — In this expression, but should be omitted because its use results in a double negative (cannot, or can t, and but). Instead of saying I can t help but think you are mistaken, say I can t help thinking you are mistaken, a more concise statement… … Dictionary of problem words and expressions
cannot or can't help but — idi cannot or can t help but, to be unable to refrain from or avoid; be obliged to: Still, you can t help but admire her[/ex] … From formal English to slang
can't\ help\ but — • cannot but formal • can t help but informal v. phr. To be forced to; can only; must. When the streets are full of melting snow, you can t help but get your shoes wet. When a friend gave Jim a ticket to the game, he couldn t help but go. When a… … Словарь американских идиом
