Cool MateBut that's not true at all vs Not at all vs That's a lie
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
But that's not true at all
Not at all
That's a lie
| But that's not true at all | Not at all | That's a lie | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bʌt ðæts nɒt truː æt ɔːl//🇺🇸 //bʌt ðæts nɑt tru æt ɔl// | 🇬🇧 //nɒt æt ɔːl//🇺🇸 //nɑt æt ɔl// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ə laɪ//🇺🇸 //ðæts ə laɪ// |
| Meaning | This means something is completely untrue. | not even a little bit | It's not true. |
| Example | She said I never help her, but that's not true at all! | I didn't like the movie, not at all. | When he claimed he finished the project on time, I thought, 'That's a lie.' |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Common idiom |
| Collocations | say that's not true at all, believe that's not true at all, know that's not true at all | not at all worried, not at all surprising, not at all offended | tell a lie, caught in a lie, big lie |
| Antonyms | - | at all, somewhat, partially | - |
| Common mistakes | Using it in a formal context where a softer expression would be better., Confusing it with other phrases that carry a different tone or implication. | Confusing with 'not really' which is less absolute., Using it in formal contexts where a less emphatic phrase is better., Omitting it when it's necessary for clarity. | Use 'lies' instead of 'lie' when referring to multiple falsehoods., Confuse with 'lying' which refers to the act of being in a horizontal position. |
| Usage notes | Use in conversations to emphasize disagreement. Avoid in very formal writing or speeches. | Use 'not at all' to emphasize complete disagreement or absence. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but less common in formal writing. | Used to express disbelief or accusation. Avoid in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: But that's not true at all vs Not at all vs That's a lie
What's the difference between But that's not true at all, Not at all, and That's a lie?
But that's not true at all: This means something is completely untrue. Not at all: not even a little bit That's a lie: It's not true.
Which is more common: But that's not true at all, Not at all, and That's a lie?
Not at all is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
But that's not true at all: She said I never help her, but that's not true at all! Not at all: I didn't like the movie, not at all. That's a lie: When he claimed he finished the project on time, I thought, 'That's a lie.'
Can I use But that's not true at all, Not at all, and That's a lie interchangeably?
Not always. But that's not true at all, Not at all, and That's a lie 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.