1an object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to:look at that metal rail thing over therethere are lots of things I’d like to buy
(things) personal belongings or clothing:she began to unpack her things
(with adjective or noun modifier things) equipment, utensils, or other objects used for a particular purpose:they cleared away the lunch things
[with negative] (a thing) anything (used for emphasis):she couldn’t find a thing to wear
used to express one’s disapproval of or contempt for something:you won’t find me smoking those filthy things
[with postpositive adjective] (things) all that can be described in the specified way:his love for all things English
used euphemistically to refer to a man’s penis.
2an inanimate material object as distinct from a living sentient being:I’m not a thing, not a work of art to be cherished
[with adjective] a living creature or plant:the sea is the primal source of all living things on earth
[with adjective] used to express one’s feelings of pity, affection, approval, or contempt for a person or animal:have a nice weekend in the country, you lucky thing!the lamb was a puny little thing
3an action, event, thought, or utterance:she said the first thing that came into her headthe only thing I could do well was cook
(things) circumstances or matters that are unspecified:things haven’t gone entirely to planhow are things with you?
an abstract entity, quality, or concept:mourning and depression are not the same thingthey had one thing in common—they were men of action
an example or type of something:the game is the latest thing in family fun
[with adjective or noun modifier] informal a situation or activity of a specified type or quality:your being here is just a friendship thing, OK?
4 (the thing) informal what is needed or required:you need a tonic—and here’s just the thing
what is socially acceptable or fashionable:it wouldn’t be quite the thing to go to a royal garden party in wellies
5 (one's thing) informal one’s special interest or inclination:reading isn’t my thing
6 (the thing) informal used to introduce or emphasize an important point:the thing is, I am going to sell this house
be all things to all men (or people)
please everyone, typically by fitting in with their needs or expectations:a politician running scared of the electorate and trying to be all things to all people
be able to be interpreted or used differently by different people:multimedia is all things to all men
be on to a good thing
informal have found a job or other situation that is pleasant, profitable, or easy:many directors who take dividends in lieu of salary think they are on to a good thing
be hearing (or seeing) things
imagine that one can hear (or see) something that is not in fact there:the first time I spotted a puffin I thought I was seeing things
a close (or near) thing
a narrow avoidance of something unpleasant:we got him out, but it was a close thing
do one's own thing
informal follow one’s own interests or inclinations regardless of others:they don’t seem to be a couple, they just seem to be two people who do their own thing
do the —— thing
informal, chiefly North American engage in the kind of behaviour typically associated with someone or something:a film in which he does the bad-guy thing
do things to
informal have a powerful emotional effect on:it just does things to me when we kiss
for one thing
used to introduce one of two or more possible reasons for something, the remainder of which may or may not be stated:Why hadn’t he arranged to see her at the house? For one thing, it would have been warmer
have a thing about
informal have an obsessive interest in or dislike of:she had a thing about men who wore glasses
—— is one thing, —— is another
used to indicate that the second item mentioned is much more important than the first, and cannot be compared to it:physical attraction was one thing, love was quite another
make a (big) thing of (or about)
informal make (something) seem more important than it actually is:Meadows made a big thing of paying the bill
of all things
out of all conceivable possibilities (used to express surprise):What had he been thinking about? A kitten, of all things!
(just) one of those things
informal used to indicate that one wishes to pass over an unfortunate experience by regarding it as unavoidable or to be accepted:I didn’t manage to go on the tour of Australia, but that was just one of those things
one thing leads to another
used to suggest that the exact sequence of events is too obvious to need recounting:he offered me a lift home one night and one thing led to another
there is only one thing for it
there is only one possible course of action:there was only one thing for it—she would have to open the parcel
(now) there's a thing
informal used as an expression of surprise.
a thing of the past
a thing that no longer happens or exists:house-price booms were seen as a thing of the past
a thing or two
informal used to refer to useful information that can be imparted or learned:Teddy taught me a thing or two about wine
things that go bump in the night
informal, humorous unexplained and frightening noises at night, regarded as being caused by ghosts:the fear of long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night
