thing

Idioms

all/other things being equal

1. if the conditions stay the same; if other conditions are the same
   • All things being equal, we should finish the job tomorrow.
   • All other things being equal, the bigger fighter should win.

and things (like that)

1. (informal) used when you do not want to complete a list
   • She likes nice clothes and things like that.
   • I've been busy shopping and things.

as it/things turned out

1. as was shown or proved by later events
   • I didn't need my umbrella, as it turned out (= because it didn't rain).

as things/it turned out

1. as was shown or proved by later events
   • As things turned out, the weather—and the whole weekend—were perfect.

be all things to all men/people

1. (of people) to please everyone by changing your attitudes or opinions to suit different people
2. (of things) to be understood or used in different ways by different people

be the done thing

1. (British English) to be socially acceptable behaviour

be a good thing (that)…

1. to be lucky that…
   • It's a good thing we got here early.
   • It's a good thing you remembered to turn off the gas!

be no bad thing (that)…

1. used to say that although something seems to be bad, it could have good results
   • We didn't want the press to get hold of the story, but it might be no bad thing.
   • It's no bad thing to express your anger.

be onto a good thing

1. to have found a job, situation or style of life that is pleasant or easy

be seeing/hearing things

1. (informal, humorous) to imagine that you can see or hear something that is in fact not there

chance would be a fine thing

1. (British English, informal) people say chance would be a fine thing to show that they would like to do or have the thing that somebody has mentioned, but that they do not think that it is very likely

a close-run thing

1. a situation in which somebody only just wins or loses, for example in a competition or an election
   • Mr Taylor’s election defeat was a close-run thing.
   • The invasion never happened but it was a close-run thing.

a close thing

1. a situation in which success or failure is equally possible
   • We got him out in the end, but it was a close thing.
   Topics Successc2, Difficulty and failurec2

come to/be the same thing

1. to have the same result or meaning

do your own thing

1. (informal) to do what you want to do or what interests you, without thinking about other people; to be independent

do things to somebody

1. (informal) to have a powerful emotional effect on somebody
   • That song just does things to me.

first/last thing

1. early in the morning/late in the evening
   • I need the report on my desk first thing Monday morning.
   • I took the dog for a walk last thing before going to bed.

first things first

1. (often humorous) the most important matters must be dealt with first
   • We have a lot to discuss, but, first things first, let's have a cup of coffee!

for one thing

1. used to introduce one of two or more reasons for doing something
   • ‘Why don't you get a car?’ ‘Well, for one thing, I can't drive!’

have it/things/everything your own way

1. to have something arranged in the way that you want, even though other people want it to be arranged differently
   • The German team weren't going to let the English have everything their own way.

have a thing about somebody/something

1. (informal) to have a strong like or dislike of somebody/something in a way that seems strange or unreasonable
   • She has a thing about men with beards.
   Topics Preferences and decisionsc2

have a thing for somebody/something

1. (informal) to be sexually attracted to somebody; to like something very much
   • Liz has always had a thing for guys in bands.
   • He has a thing for the new girl in the office.
   • Jamie has a thing for fast cars.

in the nature of things

1. in the way that things usually happen
   • In the nature of things, young people often rebel against their parents.

A is one thing, B is another | it’s one thing to do A, it’s another thing to do B

1. B is very different from A, for example it is more difficult, serious or important
   • Romance is one thing; marriage is quite another.
   • It's one thing to tease your sister, but it's another to hit her.

it isn’t my, his, etc. thing

1. (informal) it isn’t something that you really enjoy or are interested in

it’s a… thing

1. (informal) it is something that only a particular group understands
   • You wouldn't know what it means—it's a girl thing.

know/tell somebody a thing or two (about somebody/something)

1. (informal) to know/tell somebody some useful, interesting or surprising information about somebody/something
   • She's been married five times, so she knows a thing or two about men!

make a (big) thing of/about something

1. (informal) to make something seem more important than it really is

a near thing

1. a situation in which you are successful, but which could also have ended badly
   • Phew! That was a near thing! It could have been a disaster.
   • We won in the end but it was a near thing.
   Topics Successc2

not know, etc. the first thing about something/somebody

1. to know nothing at all about something/somebody
   • We’ve lived next to him for years, but we still don’t know the first thing about him.

not quite the thing

1. not considered socially acceptable
   • It wouldn't be quite the thing to turn up in running gear.
2. (old-fashioned) not healthy or normal

(just) one of those things

1. used to say that you do not want to discuss or think about something bad or unpleasant that has happened, but just accept it
   • It wasn't your fault. It was just one of those things.

one (damned/damn) thing after another

1. (informal) used to complain that a lot of unpleasant things keep happening to you

one thing leads to another

1. used to suggest that the way one event or action leads to others is so obvious that it does not need to be stated
   • He offered me a ride home one night, and, well, one thing led to another and now we're married!

the only thing is…

1. (informal) used before mentioning a worry or problem you have with something
   • I'd love to come—the only thing is I might be late.

overdo it/things

1. to work, study, etc. too hard or for too long
   • He's been overdoing things recently.
   • I overdid it in the gym and hurt my back.

push your luck | push it/things

1. (informal) to take a risk because you have successfully avoided problems in the past
   • You didn't get caught last time, but don't push your luck!
   Topics Dangerc2

push things/it | push your luck

1. (informal) to take a risk because you have successfully avoided problems in the past
   • Don't push things—we don't want it all to go wrong now.
   Topics Dangerc2

the real thing

1. (informal) actually what somebody claims that something is
   • Are you sure it's the real thing (= love), not just infatuation?

the/somebody’s scheme of things

1. the way things seem to be organized; the way somebody wants everything to be organized
   • My personal problems are not really important in the overall scheme of things.
   • This small annoyance isn't much in the grand scheme of things.
   • I don't think marriage figures in his scheme of things.

the shape of things to come

1. the way things are likely to develop in the future
   • Are solar-powered cars the shape of things to come?
   • This new system could be the shape of things to come.

sure thing

1. (informal, especially North American English) used to say ‘yes’ to a suggestion or request
   • ‘Are you coming?’ ‘Sure thing.’
   Topics Suggestions and advicec1

take it/things easy

1. to relax and avoid working too hard or doing too much
   • The doctor told me to take it easy for a few weeks.
   • I like to take things easy when I’m on holiday.

take it/things one day at a time

1. (informal) to not think about what will happen in the future
   • I don't know if he'll get better. We're just taking it one day at a time.

take things/it one day at a time

1. (informal) to not think about what will happen in the future
   • I don't know if he'll get better. We're just taking things one day at a time.

there’s only one thing for it

1. there is only one possible course of action

these things are sent to try us

1. (saying) used to say that you should accept an unpleasant situation or event because you cannot change it

the (whole)… thing

1. (informal) a situation or an activity of the type mentioned
   • She really didn't want to be involved in the whole family thing.

the thing is

1. (informal) used to introduce an important fact, reason or explanation
   • I'm sorry my assignment isn't finished. The thing is, I've had a lot of other work this week.

the thing (about/with something/somebody) is

1. used to introduce a problem about something/somebody
   • The thing with Karl is, he's always late.

things that go bump in the night

1. (informal, humorous) used to refer to ghosts and other supernatural things that cannot be explained
   • There are mysterious lights in the sky and things that go bump in the night.

to do the decent thing

1. to do what people or society expect, especially in a difficult situation
   • He did the decent thing and resigned.

too much of a good thing

1. used to say that, although something is pleasant, you do not want to have too much of it

(what) with one thing and another

1. (informal) because you have been busy with various problems, events or things you had to do
   • I completely forgot her birthday, what with one thing and another.

work it/things

1. (informal) to arrange something in a particular way, especially by being clever
   • Can you work it so that we get free tickets?

work things/it

1. (informal) to arrange something in a particular way, especially by being clever
   • Can you work things so that we get Friday afternoon off?