can but hope

English

Etymology

Ellipsis of can do nothing but hope and can do naught but hope.

Verb

can but hope (third-person singular simple present can but hope, no present participle, simple past could but hope, no past participle)

  1. (UK, dated) To be unable to do anything (about something) other than hope [with that (+ clause); or (informal) with clause; or with so or (negative) not]; especially with long odds.
    We can but hope that he returns alive.
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