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Not Likely

What Does "Not Likely" Mean?

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"Not likely" is an English idiom expressing skepticism or doubt about the likelihood of something happening.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "not likely" used in a sentence:
  • He thinks he can win the race, but not likely; the competition is fierce.
  • Getting a promotion without any experience? Not likely to happen.
  • She believes he'll change, but based on his track record, not likely.
meaning for not likely

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Not Likely" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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