this
determiner, pronoun /ðɪs/
/ðɪs/
(plural these
Idioms /ðiːz/
/ðiːz/
)- used to refer to a particular person, thing or event that is close to you, especially compared with another
- How long have you been living in this country?
- Well, make up your mind. Which do you want? This one or that one?
- I think you'll find these more comfortable than those.
- Is this your bag?
- used to refer to something/somebody that has already been mentioned
- There was a court case resulting from this incident.
- The boy was afraid and the dog had sensed this.
- What's this I hear about you getting married?
- used for introducing somebody/yourself
- Hello, this is Carlos Diaz (= on the phone).
- (North American English) Is this Maria? (= on the phone)
- (British English) Is that Maria?
- Jo, this is Kate (= when you are introducing them).
- This is the captain speaking.
- used for showing somebody to something or calling somebody's attention to something
- Do it like this (= in the way I am showing you).
- Listen to this.
- used with periods of time related to the present
- this week/month/year
- I saw her this morning (= today in the morning).
- Do you want me to come this Tuesday (= Tuesday of this week) or next Tuesday?
- Do it this minute (= now).
- He never comes to see me these days (= now, as compared with the past).
- this something of somebody’s (informal) used to refer to somebody/something that is connected with a person, especially when you have a particular attitude towards it or them
- These new friends of hers are supposed to be very rich.
- (informal) used when you are telling a story or telling somebody about something
- There was this strange man sitting next to me on the plane.
- I've been getting these pains in my chest.
Word OriginOld English, neuter of thes, of West Germanic origin; related to that and the.
Idioms
this and that | this, that and the other
- (informal) various things or activities
- ‘What did you talk about?’ ‘Oh, this and that.’
More Like This Alliteration in idiomsAlliteration in idioms- belt and braces
- black and blue
- born and bred
- chalk and cheese
- chop and change
- done and dusted
- down and dirty
- in dribs and drabs
- eat somebody out of house and home
- facts and figures
- fast and furious
- first and foremost
- forgive and forget
- hale and hearty
- hem and haw
- kith and kin
- mix and match
- part and parcel
- puff and pant
- to rack and ruin
- rant and rave
- risk life and limb
- short and sweet
- signed and sealed
- spic and span
- through thick and thin
- this and that
- top and tail
- tried and tested
- wax and wane