What is "anything but"

Anything \A"ny*thing\, n.

1. Any object, act, state, event, or fact whatever; thing of any kind; something or other; aught; as, I would not do it for anything.

   Did you ever know of anything so unlucky?
   --A. Trollope.

   They do not know that anything is amiss with them.
   --W. G. Sumner.

2. Expressing an indefinite comparison; -- with as or like.

   I fear your girl will grow as proud as anything.
   --Richardson.

   Note: Any thing, written as two words, is now commonly used in contradistinction to any person or anybody. Formerly it was also separated when used in the wider sense. ``Necessity drove them to undertake any thing and venture any thing.''
   --De Foe.

   Anything but, not at all or in any respect. ``The battle was a rare one, and the victory anything but secure.''
   --Hawthorne.

   Anything like, in any respect; at all; as, I can not give anything like a fair sketch of his trials.

adv. To no degree; not; not at all.