Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - thing

~ n 1 »IDEA/ACTION/FEELING/FACT« anything that you can think of as a single item, for example an idea, an action, a feeling, or a fact  (The important thing is for us to tell the truth. | What a stupid thing to do. | A horrible thing happened yesterday. | do the right/decent/honourable etc thing)  (I kept wondering if I was doing the right thing.) 2 »OBJECT« an object  (On top of the box there was a thing like a long handle. | I need to pop into the supermarket to get a few things.)  (- see machine1) 3 »SITUATION« things life in general and the way it is affecting people  (How are things with you? | Things could be worse. | Things are going really well at the moment.) 4 there is no such thing used to emphasize that something does not really exist or happen  ("There's no such thing as love," that's what she said.) 5 not know a thing/not feel a thing/not see a thing etc to know, feel etc nothing  (I can't feel a thing - my mouth is completely numb. | She doesn't do a thing to help around the house.) 6 make a (big) thing out of sth to make something seem more important than it really is, by getting angry, excited etc  (OK, so we disagree, but let's not make a big thing out of it.) 7 the last thing sb wants/expects etc something that someone does not want, expect etc at all  (The last thing I felt like doing was dancing.) 8 »EQUIPMENT« especially BrE the tools, equipment, clothes etc that you need for a particular job, sport etc  (I left my swimming things at home.) 9 »AT THE END« last thing at the end of a day, afternoon, evening etc  (He always polished his shoes last thing at night.) 10 »AT THE BEGINNING« first thing at the beginning of a day, morning, afternoon etc  (I'll phone you first thing Monday morning.) 11 »CLOTHES/POSSESSIONS« things especially BrE clothes and possessions  (Pack your things. We're leaving.) 12 all things considered having considered all the facts about something  (All things considered, the team didn't do too badly.) 13 among other things used when you are giving one fact, reason, effect etc but want to suggest that there are many others  (This led, among other things, to the resignation of the Director.) 14 make things easy/difficult to deliberately make it easy, difficult etc for someone to do something + for  (He could make things difficult for you if he chooses.) 15 be onto a good thing informal to be in a situation that is very helpful, comfortable, or profitable for you  (When they offered to pay for her travel as well she realized she was onto a good thing.) 16 the done thing informal the way of behaving or doing something that is socially acceptable  (You can't serve beer with the meal. It's not the done thing.) 17 poor thing/lovely little thing/funny little thing etc a person or animal that is unlucky, attractive, funny etc  (You poor thing.) 18 the (latest) thing informal the thing that is popular or fashionable at the moment  (Platform heels are the thing at the moment.) 19 be a thing of the past to no longer exist or happen  (Good manners seem to be a thing of the past.) 20 do your own thing informal to do something in the way that you like instead of copying other people or following strict rules  (Do you prefer a structured exercise class, or do you like to do your own thing?) 21 have a thing about informal to have very strong and often unreasonable feelings about someone or something  (He's got a real thing about people smoking.) 22 breakfast things/dinner things etc BrE the plates, dishes etc used for a particular meal  (I'll just wash up the breakfast things.) 23 taking one thing with another BrE considering all the facts  (Taking one thing with another, I think it's a good scheme.) 24 be all things to all men to behave in a way that makes everyone like you  (You must stop trying to be all things to all men.) 25 the shape of things to come the way in which things will probably happen or develop in the future  (Perhaps shopping by computer is the shape of things to come.) 26 in all things in every situation  (She believes in being honest in all things..) 27 the thing is used when explaining a problem or the reason for something  (The thing is, I can't afford to buy a car.) 28 thing to do something that someone does  (That was a really stupid thing to do.) 29 thing to say a remark  (What a strange thing to say!) 30 light bulb thing/handle thing/switch thing etc used when you do not know the correct name for something  (Is that it - that handle thing under the shelf?) 31 for one thing used to give one reason for something  (I wouldn't work abroad. I don't like travelling for one thing.) 32 it is a good thing (that) used to say that it is lucky or good that something has happened  (It's a good thing we brought some food with us.) 33 that sort/kind of thing used to mean `other things of the same type', without giving more examples  (Oh, we spent the time reading, listening to the radio, that kind of thing.) 34 and things used to mean `and other things', without giving more examples  (They sell jewellery and things, but it's all cheap stuff.) 35 the thing with used to say what the problem with someone or something is  (That's the thing with him, isn't it? You can't trust him.) 36 just one of those things used to say that something unpleasant or unlucky cannot be prevented  (It wasn't really the driver's fault, it was just one of those things.) 37 it's (just) one thing after another used to say that a lot of unpleasant or unlucky things keep happening to you  (Train strikes, computer problems, illness - it's just one thing after another!) 38 just the thing/the very thing exactly the thing that you want or that is necessary  ("Would this help?" "That's just the thing I was looking for.") 39 what with one thing and another used to explain that you have not done something because you have been too busy  (Well, what with one thing and another, we never got round to getting it fixed.) 40 the way things are/stand used to say that because of the present situation you must do or cannot do something  (The way things are we can't possibly afford a vacation this year.) 41 it's no bad thing used to say that even though an event seems to be unlucky it does actually help  (We had to sell the car, although it was no bad thing really because it was too expensive to run.) 42 of all things used to show that you are surprised or shocked by something that someone has done or said  (And for breakfast he had curry, of all things!) 43 it's one thing to..., it's another thing to..., used to say that doing one thing is very different from doing another thing  (It's one thing to play a computer game; it's quite another thing to write your own programs.) 44 sb did/said etc no such thing used to say angrily that someone did not do or say something  ("Jane says that you took the money out of the cash box." "I did no such thing!") 45 (do) the...thing AmE used to talk about an activity and everything that is involved with it  (Jody tried the college thing but finally dropped out.)