ifs, ands, or buts
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ifs, ands, or buts
Where it comes from
Earlier as ifs and 'ans, plurals of if and 'an (or an, en, or and), dialectal for then, influenced by the conjunction an (meaning if) (See OED entry on and conj.2). Thus it meant ifs and thens. Brewer's analyzes it as ifs and ans, with the meaning ifs and ifs, and that the spelling ands is a mistake. In any case, it was later supplemented with buts.
noun ifs, ands or buts · if's, and's, or but's
- Modifications, limitations, or addenda; qualifications of any kind; speculations about whether a particular idea or enterprise is good. 1867, The Frankfort Commonwealth, Frankfort, Kentucky. August 30, 1867, p. 3. Some of those elected on the Rebel Democratic ticket, at the opening of the war, in the interest of the traitors to the Government, professed to be "Union men, without any ifs, ands, or buts."
Translations
Every language
noun speculation, doubt
| Deutsch | ohne Wenn und Aber |
|---|---|
| Română | dar și poate, doar și poate |
| Русский | если бы да кабы jesli by da kaby, оговорка ogovorka |
Talk about this word "ifs, ands, or buts." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/ifs%2C%20ands%2C%20or%20buts. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026. ifs, ands, or buts. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 7, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/ifs%2C%20ands%2C%20or%20buts "ifs, ands, or buts." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 7, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/ifs%2C%20ands%2C%20or%20buts.Cite this
@misc{ifs_ands_or_buts_2026,
title = {ifs, ands, or buts},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/ifs%2C%20ands%2C%20or%20buts},
urldate = {2026-11-07}
}
