not作为一个我们最早认识的否定词
我们是再熟悉不过了
今天北美君要带大家认识几个
带着not但是却还可以表达肯定含义的固定用法
as likely as not看似有否定，但其实这个短语是肯定意义的，表示“多半”、“说不定”。 例如： He will catch up with them as likely as not. 他很可能会赶上他们。 He will succeed as likely as not. 他多半会成功。 The old woman will forget all about it as likely as not. 说不定那位老太太会将此事忘得一干二净。
as soon as not是固定短语，意思是“宁可”。 例如： We would tell him the truth as soon as not. 我们宁可告诉他真相。 Mr. Brown would do it as soon as not. 布朗先生宁可做此事。
more often than not相当于very often，意思是“经常”、“常常”。 例如： Tom is late more often than not. 汤姆经常迟到。
not to say这个短语很容易迷惑人，其真正含义是“甚至”、“简直”、“几乎”，并不是“虽不能说”、“虽说不上”。 例如： He is unkind, not to say cruel. 他不和善，甚至有点残酷。 He sounded impolite, not to say rude. 他那样说话是无礼貌的，甚至可以说有点粗鲁。 It would be foolish, not to say mad, to sell your car. 你要是卖掉汽车真够愚蠢的，甚至可以说是发疯。
