英和和英

接続詞

if not

1. (plain literal sense) Indicates that a statement is true in the event that a condition is not satisfied.

   The plant will die if not watered.

2. Indicates that one statement at least is true, and possibly a second, stronger statement is true; perhaps even.

   He did as well as expected, if not better.

   • 2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff.”, in New York Times‎:

     People who talk about an imminent possibility of war seldom pose this question: What would North Korea’s leadership get from unleashing a war that they are likely to lose in weeks, if not days?

3. Indicates that one statement is true, but a second is not; but not.

   I saw that he had improved his manners if not his scruffy appearance.

参考

• if not for
• nothing if not

アナグラム

• notif