What does the phrase no earlier than mean?

The phrase "no earlier than" means not before a specific time or date. It sets a minimum limit, but allows for the action to happen later.

Here are some examples:

* "The meeting will be held no earlier than 2 pm." This means the meeting cannot start before 2 pm, but it could start at 2 pm or any time after that.

* "The project deadline is no earlier than June 1st." This means the project can be submitted on or after June 1st, but not before.

* "You can leave the office no earlier than 5 pm." This means you cannot leave before 5 pm, but you can leave at 5 pm or later.

Essentially, "no earlier than" creates a lower boundary for when something can occur.