By all means means of course, please do: polite permission or an invitation. A: May I use this chair? B: By all means. It can lead straight into an action: By all means, take a look. It sounds courteous and slightly formal; with friends, sure or go ahead is simpler.
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request for permission → By all means.; By all means, + invitation / imperative
- A: May I use this chair? B: By all means.
- By all means, take a look at the sketches before the meeting.
- You may bring a friend, by all means; just tell us their name.
What changed
First versionA: May I use your charger? B: By no means. It's in the top drawer.
RevisionA: May I use your charger? B: By all means. It's in the top drawer.
Both phrases start the same way, so by no means can pass for no problem. But by no means means absolutely not, and instead of permission you get a refusal. To give permission, say: By all means.
By no means means absolutely not, not at all: it's by no means easy. By any means necessary means using whatever methods it takes, and it's about a goal, not politeness. Go ahead is a casual of course.
Your turn
Give clear permission: May I open the window? — ___.
Show the answer
By all means — You need to clearly allow someone to open the window: By all means. By no means would mean absolutely not.
Reply to a neighbour who asks to borrow something of yours for the weekend. Use By all means and add one detail.
By all means, borrow the ladder; just leave it by the shed afterwards.
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