Cool MateAbsolutely not vs Not with this
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely not
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Not with this
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Absolutely not
| Absolutely not | Not with this | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li nɒt//🇺🇸 //ˈæb.sə.luːt.li nɑːt// | 🇬🇧 //nɒt wɪð ðɪs//🇺🇸 //nɑt wɪð ðɪs// |
| Meaning | Definitely not; strong refusal. | A phrase used to express disagreement or refusal. |
| Example | Can we go swimming in this cold weather? Absolutely not! | I can't attend the meeting today. Not with this headache. |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | say absolutely not, respond absolutely not, use absolutely not | not with this attitude, not with this plan, not with this team |
| Common mistakes | Using it with a polite tone in formal situations., Confusing it with 'maybe' or 'possibly'. | Using it in formal contexts., Confusing it with 'not with me', which implies a personal exclusion., Misunderstanding its meaning as simply 'no'. |
| Usage notes | Use in casual conversations to strongly disagree. Avoid in formal settings. | Used casually to emphasize unacceptability or lack of readiness. Avoid in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Absolutely not vs Not with this
What's the difference between Absolutely not and Not with this?
Absolutely not: Definitely not; strong refusal. Not with this: A phrase used to express disagreement or refusal.
Which is more common: Absolutely not and Not with this?
Absolutely not 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! Not with this: I can't attend the meeting today. Not with this headache.
Can I use Absolutely not and Not with this interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely not and Not with this 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.