cannot

cannot but

Must or cannot resist. A phrase used when one feels very strongly compelled to do something. I cannot but study for this exam—it counts for half of our grade! My mom cannot but meddle in my love life, even though I'm 30 years old!
See also: but, cannot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

cannot

See the expressions listed at can't and also those at not able.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

cannot

see under can't.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

cannot

See entries beginning with can't; also you can't.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See:
  • (I) can't say (as) I have
  • (I) can't say's I do
  • (I) can't say's I have
  • (one) can't do right for doing wrong
  • (one) can't top that
  • (one) can't win
  • (one) can't win for losing
  • (one) can't win for trying
  • (you) can't please everyone
  • a house divided against itself cannot stand
  • a leopard cannot change its spots
  • a leopard can't change its spots
  • a leopard does not change its spots
  • a man cannot serve two masters
  • a mill cannot grind with water that is past
  • a word (once) spoken cannot be recalled
  • an empty sack cannot stand upright
  • an offer (one) can't refuse
  • beggars can't be choosers
  • believe one's own eyes, one cannot
  • cannot
  • cannot but
  • cannot choose but
  • cannot for the life of me/him/her/us/them
  • cannot help but
  • cannot help doing
  • cannot hold a candle to
  • cannot hold a candle to somebody/something
  • cannot make head or tail of something
  • cannot see any further than the end of one’s nose
  • cannot see further than the end of one’s nose
  • cannot see further than your nose
  • cannot see the wood for the trees
  • can't be bad
  • can't be bothered
  • can't be doing with (something)
  • can't be in two places at once
  • can't but
  • can't call (one's) time (one's) own
  • can't carry a tune
  • can't carry a tune in a bushel basket
  • can't carry a tune in a paper sack
  • can't for the life of me
  • can't get (something) for love or money
  • can't go on
  • can't have it both ways
  • can't help
  • can't help (doing something)
  • can't help but (do something)
  • can't help but notice (that) (something)
  • can't help noticing (that) (something)
  • can't hold a candle to (someone or something)
  • can't hold it (in)
  • can't live with them, can't live without them
  • can't make a silk purse (out) of a sow's ear
  • can't make anything out (of something)
  • can't make heads or tails (out) of (someone or something)
  • can't see (any) further than the end of (one's) nose
  • can't see beyond the end of (one's) nose
  • can't see farther than (one's) nose
  • can't see farther than the end of (one's) nose
  • can't see further than (the end of) (one's) (own) nose
  • can't see the forest for the trees
  • can't see the wood for the trees
  • can't stomach (someone)
  • can't stomach (something)
  • can't take the heat
  • change (one's) stripes
  • change one's stripes/spots, cannot
  • couldn't carry a note in a bucket
  • couldn't carry a tune in a bucket
  • don't bark if you can't bite
  • don't make a threat you cannot carry out
  • don't make threats you cannot carry out
  • don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk
  • from can see to can't see
  • he that cannot obey cannot command
  • hold a candle to, cannot/not fit to
  • hold a candle to, not
  • I can't accept that
  • I can't believe it/that/this
  • I can't understand (it)
  • if you can't be good, be careful
  • if you can't stand the heat, keep out of the kitchen
  • if you can't walk the walk, don't talk the talk
  • leopard cannot change his spots
  • leopard cannot change its spots, a
  • man cannot live by bread alone
  • mill cannot grind with water that is past
  • never make a threat you cannot carry out
  • never make threats you cannot carry out
  • not able to stomach
  • not bear the sight of (someone or something)
  • not stand the sight of (someone or something)
  • offer one cannot refuse
  • One cannot be in two places at once
  • one cannot love and be wise
  • see no further than the end of nose
  • see no further than the end of one’s nose
  • what (someone) doesn't know can't hurt them
  • what has been seen cannot be unseen
  • what is done cannot be undone
  • what's done cannot be undone
  • you can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink
  • You cannot get a quart into a pint pot
  • You cannot get blood from a stone
  • You cannot have your cake and eat it
  • You cannot lose what you never had
  • you cannot make a crab walk straight
  • You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
  • You cannot make an omelet without breaking eggs
  • You cannot make bricks without straw
  • You cannot please everyone
  • You cannot put new wine in old bottles
  • you cannot put the same shoe on every foot
  • You cannot serve God and mammon
  • You cannot teach an old dog new tricks
  • you can't always get what you want
  • you can't eat your cake and have it (too)
  • you can't expect (one) to believe (something)
  • you can't get a quart into a pint pot
  • you can't get blood from a stone
  • you can't get blood from a turnip
  • you can't get blood out of a turnip
  • you can't have your cake and eat it(, too)
  • you can't judge a book by its cover
  • you can't live with them, you can't live without them
  • you can't lose what you never had
  • you can't make a silk purse (out) of a sow's ear
  • you can't make an omelet without breaking (a few) eggs
  • you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs
  • you can't make bricks without straw
  • You can't make this shit up.
  • You can't make this stuff up.
  • You can't make this up.
  • you can't polish a turd
  • you can't put a wise head on young shoulders
  • you can't put an old head on young shoulders
  • you can't put new wine in(to) an old bottle
  • you can't put new wine in(to) an old wineskin
  • you can't put new wine in(to) old bottles
  • you can't put new wine in(to) old wineskins
  • you can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
  • you can't serve (both) God and mammon
  • you can't spell (something) without (something else)
  • you can't squeeze blood from a stone
  • you can't squeeze blood from a turnip
  • you can't teach an old dog new tricks
  • you can't tell a book by its cover
  • you can't unring a bell
  • you don't expect (one) to believe (something)
References in classic literature
If men descended from the apes at an unknown period of time, that is as comprehensible as that they were made from a handful of earth at a certain period of time (in the first case the unknown quantity is the time, in the second case it is the origin); and the question of how man's consciousness of freedom is to be reconciled with the law of necessity to which he is subject cannot be solved by comparative physiology and zoology, for in a frog, a rabbit, or an ape, we can observe only the muscular nervous activity, but in man we observe consciousness as well as the muscular and nervous activity.
War and Peace
All things work exactly according to their quality and according to their quantity; attempt nothing they cannot do, except man only.
The hero is misconceived and misreported; he cannot therefore wait to unravel any man's blunders; he is again on his road, adding new powers and honors to his domain and new claims on your heart, which will bankrupt you if you have loitered about the old things and have not kept your relation to him by adding to your wealth.
The Yunani sage, on seeing that chief, said, "This form and this gait cannot lie, and nothing but truth can proceed from them." Plato said it was impossible not to believe in the children of the gods, "though they should speak without probable or necessary arguments." I should think myself very unhappy in my associates if I could not credit the best things in history.
Friends also follow the laws of divine necessity; they gravitate to each other, and cannot otherwise:--
If we cannot attain at a bound to these grandeurs, at least let us do them homage.
Essays Second Series
Look at the following presidential statements: on the Bureau of Customs corruption, 'Corruption in the BOC cannot be resolved whoever heads it'; on traffic problems, 'I give up'; on the West Philippine Sea, 'We cannot win a battle or war with China'; on the Edsa rehabilitation, 'Let Edsa remain as it is for 20 years'; on inflation and oil price hikes, 'You can...behead me, I cannot do anything about oil'; on the antidrug campaign, 'Others cannot do it, how can we?
Duterte's 'finest hour'
ISLAMABAD -- Former judge of Indian Supreme Court, Justice (retd) Markanday Katju has said that the Indian army is engaged in a war it cannot possibly win adding that an army can fight another army, but it cannot fight the masses.
Former judge says Indian army engaged in a war it cannot win
And our country cannot look away from the children taken from their parents.
Cannot look away from immigrant children
A lot of people are hoping for a colorful tomorrow that they cannot see.
Seeing further than your eyes can see
Prosecutors cannot indict respondents on a weak complaint, Assistant State Prosecutor Aristotle Reyes stressed on Thursday.
Prosecutor stands by dismissal of rap vs Kerwin Espinosa, Peter Lim
The governing law and applicable regulations cannot be the subject of a contract.
What can be negotiated in a competitive challenge process
As with housing and loss of greenbelt, and houses that cannot earn revenue if unoccupied.
Why build so many if city can't cope as it is? LETTERS Get in touch - tell us what you think Email: letters@coventrytelegraph.net Twitter: @coventrytelegraph Facebook: facebook.com/coventrytelegraph Post: Coventry Telegraph, Leicester Row, Canal Basin, Coventry, CV1 4LY
LAHORE -- Punjab Chief Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that bloodshed of unarmed citizens in occupied Kashmir by Indian forces is highly condemnable and the just struggle of Kashmiri people cannot be suppressed with the use of force.
Shehbaz Sharif condemns bloodshed in occupied Kashmir
If I cannot speak to people they can still hear my voice and let it run over their voice If I cannot speak to people I can still show them my face If I cannot speak I can still make my noise If I cannot I can hum If I cannot I can dance in a walk If I cannot I can still think what and they can still see me as what If I cannot speak you can still speak and I can still hear even if there's none If I cannot you still can and I can and then they can And maybe if I can at all then you as well and then If they cannot doesn't mean I can
All Then You