I saw a product review that was complaining about the built-in microphone of the camera, and in one paragraph stated it was 'all but useless'. I have seen 'all but [negative word]' in different places before to describe something as bad, but shouldn't it mean that it is everything (including good things) except the bad thing; i.e it is not useless as it is all of the good things but not the useless one?
Could someone please explain the correct usage, and why people do/don't use it?
Best Answer
The straightforward sense is that the reviewer was claiming that the product was nearly useless. This is consistent with the review complaining about the product.
Oddly enough, if you stress the word but loudly enough, the sense flips to a defense against the product's uselessness.
Consider:
Reviewer: This microphone is all but useless. It hisses and spits, and barely transmits a word I speak into it.
Manufacturer: On the contrary, it is all but useless. Obviously, you haven't paired it with the solid gold contacts it was designed for.