so much as

so much as (not comparable)

1. Even; suggests a minimum, especially regarding what might be expected.

   Synonym: as much as

   Without so much as asking, he walked into the office and started digging through their files.

   If she so much as looked at another man, I’d divorce her!

   • 1927 March 5, Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place”, in The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, London: John Murray, […], published June 1927 (May 1952 printing), →OCLC, page 280:

     “Well, she seems to have lost all interest in the horses. For a week now she has driven past the stables with never so much as ‘good morning’!”

2. But rather.

   I'm not staring at her breasts so much as admiring her brooch.

• chasmous