What is “ain't nothing but” meaning? It’s from Backstreet Boys lyrics “ I want it that way”. It goes “Ain’t nothing but a heart ache” Do you use it in daily conversation? Please teach me. Thank you! (2024)

• English (US)
• French (Canada)Near fluent

It's just a heartache (nothing else)
Many people never say "ain't" at all. "Ain't nothing but ____" is something you'd mostly hear in southern USA.
More common ways to say it in conversation would be "It's nothing but a heartache" or "It's just/only a heartache".

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• English (US)
• French (Canada)Near fluent

It's just a heartache (nothing else)
Many people never say "ain't" at all. "Ain't nothing but ____" is something you'd mostly hear in southern USA.
More common ways to say it in conversation would be "It's nothing but a heartache" or "It's just/only a heartache".

• English (US)
• French (Canada)Near fluent

Maybe I should mention, the person who wrote "I want it that way" was a Swedish man who didn't speak English well. The lyrics don't make much sense as a result :p

• Japanese

@Stopdrop I see that now! Thank you for your detailed explanation! It helps me a lot!
But it’s sad to know that I’m trying to learn English from the lyrics, but it’s not making much sense... 😭

• Japanese

@Stopdrop Can I ask one more question? How about the title “ I want it that way” Do you use this phrase in your daily conversation?

• English (US)
• French (Canada)Near fluent

@AskaC It's normal to say in conversation. There are a few ways to say it
"I want it like that"
"That's how I want it"
"I want it this/that way"
They're all basically the same.

• Japanese

@Stopdrop Thank you so much!! I understand well!

• Japanese