BY NO MEANS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does by no means mean? 

• BY NO MEANS (adverb)
  The adverb BY NO MEANS has 1 sense:

1. definitely not

  Familiarity information: BY NO MEANS used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BY NO MEANS (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Definitely not

Synonyms:

by no means; not by a blame sight; not by a long sight

Context example:

and that isn't all, not by a long sight

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)

Antonym:

by all means (definitely or certainly)

 Context examples 

It will be very disagreeable, and by no means what I expected.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

They were all five arrested, but the evidence against them was by no means conclusive.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She could not endure to give him the true explanation; for though her suspicions were by no means removed, she was really ashamed of having ever imparted them.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Glancing round as I made a suitable reply, I observed that the family effects were already packed, and that the amount of luggage was by no means overwhelming.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The head had received a severe contusion, but he had seen greater injuries recovered from: he was by no means hopeless; he spoke cheerfully.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Besides, we may chance to hit upon some other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to Mr. Lestrade.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was by no means unreasonably large, and contained neither tapestry nor velvet.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I have heard your name, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and I am aware of your profession—one of which I by no means approve.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The emperor, and all his court, came out to meet us; but his great officers would by no means suffer his majesty to endanger his person by mounting on my body.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

I have by no means done.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)