Exports have risen by no less than 80% in the last ten years.

[Seiichi Myoga]

MED (Macmillan English Dictionary) intends us to read "no less than" in (1) as "as much as."

(1) Exports have risen by no less than 80% in the last ten years. (MED)

But do you think "no less than" in (1) may rather mean "at least"?

Thank you in advance
Seiichi MYOGA

[Iraqi]

I think yes

[Morteza]

Hi,
"No less than" is used to emphasize that an amount or number is large:
By 1977,the USA was importing no less than 45% of its oil.
It is also used to show your surprise at a large number:
There were no less than a thousand people there buying tickets.
Regards,
Morteza

[Seiichi Myoga]

Dear Iraqi and Morteza,

I appreciate your help and comments.

Actually, MED says:
used before a number or amount for showing that it is large and surprising: Exports have risen by no less than 80% in the last ten years.

This explanation suggests "no less than" here means "as much as." Someone says it seems to be "at least." So I needed second opinions. Thank you, again.

Seiichi MYOGA

[Youry Kouptsov]

I see 'no less than' as 'equal to, or -- more than'.

Youry

[Seiichi Myoga]

Dear Youry Kouptsov,

I appreciate your help and comments.

Is this because an 80 percent rise in ten years is a very good success?

An 80 percent rise in exports suggests the economy is in good shape, and you're sure that exports will be still on rise.

Is this why you read it as "at least"?

Seiichi MYOGA

[Esl_Expert]

Hello Seiichi Myoga,

I would interpret "no less than" to be an emphatic usage in that particular sentence, just as Morteza has already suggested. For me, the suggestion is that the writer sees the 80% increase as a surprisingly or unusually large one.

In theory, it could mean "at least", but in order for me to understand the meaning that way in that particular sentence, there would have to be additional context that would lead me specifically in that direction.

That's my two cents.

_____________________________
"Liking money like I like it, is nothing less than mysticism. Money is a glory." ~ Salvador Dali

[Iwanna]

In my opinion, the sentence's tense, present perfect, indicates that the export growth of 80% must be a confirmed data, neither larger nor smaller than it. So, "no less than" here is only for emphasizing purpose, suggesting an unusual and surprising increase.

[Seiichi Myoga]

Dear Esl_Expert and Iwanna,

I appreciate your help and comments.

Can I make a follow-up question?

Could you please have a look at this (I think now it is about fluctuations on a yearly basis):

(2) Between 1995 and 2004, no more than three choking game deaths were reported each year.

Which FILLS in the blank in (3)?

(3) Instead of "no more than," we can use "________" without making any significant difference in meaning.
(a) at most (b) as many as (c) as few as (d) only (e) at most

I think it is (a) and (d).

Thank you in advance
Seiichi MYOGA

P.S.
We know this: Between 1995 and 2007, 82 people died as a result of playing the "choking game." And (1) comes from this:
Between 1995 and 2004, no more than three choking game deaths were reported each year. In 2005, however, the number jumped to 22 and, in 2006, it reached 35. In the first 10 months of 2007, the number was down to 9. Exactly why these trends occurred is unclear, but the CDC believes they probably underestimate the true incidence.
(Reuters Feb. 14, 2008)

[Esl_Expert]

Hello Seiichi MYOGA,

Of the options you've provided, "at most" (which you listed twice, by the way) works the best in terms of meaning. I understand "no more than three" to mean that in any one of the years from 1995 to 2004, the number of reported choking game deaths was one of the following: 0, 1, 2 or 3.

The use of "only three" would basically mean "exactly three each year" and that is not the way I understand the the original sentence. Thus, option (d) is not appropriate.

___________________________
“The way a man plays a game shows some of his character. The way he loses shows all of it.”