I usually read &quot;X is all but Y&quot; as &quot;X is Y in all but name&quot;, but there are subtle distinctions that could be hard for a non-native speakers[1] to grasp without knowing about them.<p>1: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;english.stackexchange.com&#x2F;questions&#x2F;9967&#x2F;all-but-idiom-has-two-meanings" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;english.stackexchange.com&#x2F;questions&#x2F;9967&#x2F;all-but-idio...</a>