Not in the least

Posted by Pdianek on January 24, 2004

In Reply to: Not in the least posted by ESC on January 24, 2004

: : Could someone help me with the phrase "not in the least"? What is the meaning? Thanks.

: It is the same as "not at all."

: "Were you upset by what happened?"
: "Not in the least." Meaning, "No, I wasn't the least bit upset."

Although the phrase is often used with a great deal of irony:

"Were you upset?"
"Not in the least." -- conveyed in a tone that means "I was quite upset, thank you very much!"