(為故意拖延而作的)藉口, 托辭Now I'm not having any ifs and buts -- it's cold showers for everyone before breakfast tomorrow. 好了, 不要跟我討價還價--明天早飯前大家都要用冷水淋浴。I don't want any ifs and buts -- do it at once. 別給我這樣那樣的藉口--馬上動手幹吧!
要不是...; 若非...But that you had seen me in the water, I would have drowned. 要不是你看見我掉在水裡, 我早就淹死了。He would have come with us but that he had no money. 他要不是因為缺錢, 就跟我們一起來了。
(用以談起另一方面的情況)但另一方面, 然而He's clumsy and untidy but then he's always willing to help. 他笨手笨腳又邋遢; 可是話說回來, 他總是樂於助人。The villa is beautiful, but then, I expected nothing less. 別墅很美, 不過話又說回來, 這也是意料中事。