Cool MateAbsolutely not vs I mean like not at all
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely not
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
I mean like not at all
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most common: I mean like not at all
| Absolutely not | I mean like not at all | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li nɒt//🇺🇸 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li nɑːt// | 🇬🇧 //aɪ miːn laɪk nɒt æt ɔːl//🇺🇸 //aɪ min laɪk nɑt æt ɔl// |
| Meaning | Definitely not; strong refusal. | I am saying something that doesn't happen or is not true. |
| Example | Can we go swimming in this cold weather? Absolutely not! | I mean like not at all, I didn’t break the vase! |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | say absolutely not, respond absolutely not, use absolutely not | I mean like not at all, say I mean, mean something serious |
| Common mistakes | Using it with a polite tone in formal situations., Confusing it with 'maybe' or 'possibly'. | Overusing it in formal settings., Using 'I mean like not at all' when something is partially true., Confusing it with other phrases that are more general. |
| Usage notes | Use in casual conversations to strongly disagree. Avoid in formal settings. | This phrase is used to emphasize that something is not true or does not happen. Often used in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Absolutely not vs I mean like not at all
What's the difference between Absolutely not and I mean like not at all?
Absolutely not: Definitely not; strong refusal. I mean like not at all: I am saying something that doesn't happen or is not true.
Which is more common: Absolutely not and I mean like not at all?
I mean like not at all is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Absolutely not: Can we go swimming in this cold weather? Absolutely not! I mean like not at all: I mean like not at all, I didn’t break the vase!
Can I use Absolutely not and I mean like not at all interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely not and I mean like not at all are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.