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Formation: N + でもあるまい（し）; V-dictionary + こと／ほどのこと + でもあるまい; casual: N + じゃあるまいし

Built on the negative guess 〜まい, でもあるまい means "surely it isn't X". It is used to reject a premise as unreasonable, often with mild criticism or exasperation. 子どもでもあるまいし means "you're not a child, so...", and is followed by what the speaker thinks the person should do. With こと, as in そんなに騒ぐことでもあるまい, it means "surely it's nothing to make such a fuss about". The full form sounds rather literary or old-fashioned. In conversation people say 〜じゃあるまいし. Compare 〜までもない ("there is no need to") and 〜ことはない ("no need to"), which are neutral advice. でもあるまい adds the speaker's implied judgment that the behaviour is out of place.

Variants: でもあるまいし、じゃあるまいし、ことでもあるまい

Examples

• 子どもでもあるまいし、そのくらい自分で考えなさい。
  You're not a child. Figure that much out for yourself.
• 一度失敗しただけだ。そう落ち込むことでもあるまい。
  It was only one failure. Surely it's nothing to get so down about.
• 今さら騒ぎ立てるほどの問題でもあるまい。
  At this point it's hardly a problem worth making a fuss over.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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