"all but X" is an English expression meaning "almost X" or "pretty much X". "The work is all but done" = "The work is almost done". I know, it confused me too w

"all but X" is an English expression meaning "almost X" or "pretty much X". "The work is all but done" = "The work is almost done". I know, it confused me too when I was younger. "anything but X" is the opposite. It means "absolutely not X".