From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbe no substitute for somethingbe no substitute for somethingused to emphasize that something is not as good as another thing Vitamin pills are no substitute for a healthy diet. → substitute
Examples from the Corpus
be no substitute for something• In other words, money is no substitute for management.• Checking the takings late at night is no substitute for a proper budgetary control system.• An answering service or beeper number is no substitute for a trained network engineer.• It was a new experience, and there is no substitute for experience.• But there is no substitute for a visit, and a request to see evidence of previous exam results.• In many situations, however, there is no substitute for the use of chemicals as the application of heat is impracticable.• There is no substitute for educated workers with good work habits.• There is no substitute for a committed board with a vision of the future. 