Definition of thing in English:

thing

noun θɪŋθɪŋ

1An object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to.
东西
look at that metal rail thing over there
瞧那儿那个金属栏杆状的东西。
there are lots of things I'd like to buy
有许多我想买的东西。
Example sentencesExamples
- Margalo looked them up and down for the thing she had required both of them to bring.
- Quite simply, the thing won't work without the base scanning the skies for missiles.
- Everyone is opting for the thing that sells the easiest and requires the least amount of work.
- Didn't I say last night I would go to Croydon to spend a small fortune on things for my living room.
- The pink thing beside her is her G-string which she took out and decided not to wear back.
- If this thing goes out again, it'll cost as much to repair it as it will to replace it.
- All in the name of testing new materials for things like planes and spacecraft.
- Get an idea of prices by going to lots of shops that carry the kind of thing that interests you.
- If you look at photos from way back, when you were a kid, the fashions date the thing.
- Yefu took only a few necessary things with him, including a cup, a mobile phone, and bedding.
- I put this thing on and looked in the mirror and it was like I had turned into a cartoon.
- If you had all the money you could wish for, name three things you would purchase.
- My suitcase contains many things but one thing you can be sure of is that I've probably not got enough pants.
- He just wasn't into material things, but he did like to drink and get laid.
- We went out to find some dinner and of course the only thing open was the chippie.
- I did that thing that lots of blokes do when presented with a thing that has instructions.
- Helen has the material things many would envy, but she is desperately trying to break free.
- Lia wished the thing he had given her would just vibrate; a feeling of unease rested in the pit of her stomach.
Synonyms
object, article, item, artefact, commodity
device, gadget, contrivance, instrument, utensil, tool, implement
entity, body
informal whatsit, what-d'you-call-it, what's-its-name, what's-it, whatchamacallit, thingummy, thingy, thingamabob, thingamajig, oojamaflip, oojah, gizmo
British informal doodah, doobry, gubbins
North American informal doodad, doohickey, doojigger, dingus
Australian/New Zealand informal thingo
1. 1.1things Personal belongings or clothing.
  （个人的）所有（衣）物
  she began to unpack her things
  她开始解开自己的行装。
  Synonyms
  belongings, possessions, stuff, property, worldly goods, goods, personal effects, effects, paraphernalia, impedimenta, bits and pieces, bits and bobs
  luggage, baggage, bags, bags and baggage, chattels, movables, valuables
  clothes, garments
  Law goods and chattels
  informal gear, junk, togs, garms, dunnage, traps
  British informal clobber
  South African informal trek
  vulgar slang shit, crap
2. 1.2with adjective or noun modifier things Equipment, utensils, or other objects used for a particular purpose.
  物品，用具，用品
  they cleared away the lunch things
  他们清理了最后的几件午餐用具。
  Synonyms
  equipment, apparatus, gear, kit, tackle, stuff
  implements, tools, utensils
  accoutrements
3. 1.3a thingwith negative Anything (used for emphasis)
  用于强调任何东西
  she couldn't find a thing to wear
  她找不到一件可穿的东西。
  Example sentencesExamples
  He could pick and choose as he pleased and he wouldn't have to worry about a single damn thing.
  They know exactly what they're doing and in that respect I don't have a thing to worry about.
  They were absolutely not worried about a thing until I put on a robe and then Stellan screamed the house down.
  We can't have anything like that, we've never done a thing like this before.
  I'll let them know what you have planned for us tonight, so don't worry about a thing.
  She felt as if she could just get lost in his eyes forever and not ever have a thing to worry about.
4. 1.4 Used to express one's disapproval of or contempt for something.
  表示不赞成、轻蔑（这类）东西；（此等）烂货
  you won't find me smoking those filthy things
  你不会发现我抽那类肮脏的东西。
5. 1.5thingswith postpositive adjective All that can be described in the specified way.
  特定的事物
  his love for all things English
  他对所有与英语有关的事物的喜爱。
  Example sentencesExamples
  He seems to have developed a penchant for all things good, wholesome and American.
  O'Hagan did not always have such seething contempt for all things Caledonian.
  His fascination with all things Chopper also extends to the world wide web.
6. 1.6 Used euphemistically to refer to a man's penis.
  〈婉〉阴茎
2An inanimate material object as distinct from a living sentient being.
（无生命的）物
I'm not a thing, not a work of art to be cherished
我不是物品，不是一件供珍藏的艺术品。
1. 2.1with adjective A living creature or plant.
  生物；植物
  the sea is the primal source of all living things on earth
  海洋是地球上所有生物的最初起源地。
  Example sentencesExamples
  The trees protected by this bill are among the oldest, tallest, and largest living things on earth.
  This consideration must surely tell us that all living things were not made for man.
  It must take a heartless person to even be able to carry out experiments on any living thing.
  Now, obviously, the presence of living things on Earth runs counter to this rule.
  I know that I will continue to be amazed and absorbed by the mystery of living things.
  Any living thing which brought life and movement to stir the sullen stillness of it all would be silenced.
  We scooped up margarine tubs full of pond water and saw a host of living things in our little container.
  Living things search for their own fuel, and at times have to regulate their own temperatures.
  It sets out to establish an equilibrium in the use of carbon, the material of living things.
  Fossils are relics of living things that tell us something about the past.
  DNA is the common thread that links every living thing with a single primeval ancestor.
  I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on the earth.
  Lead is toxic to every living thing and adversely affects every system in the body.
  The creation story in Genesis established an account for the origin of living things.
  Nothing grew on its land, and no living thing was reared in its sheds and barns.
  There isn't a living thing which doesn't alter its natural environment in some way.
  It is our sense of interconnection with all living things that brings us to respect the rights of animals.
  Clearly all living things need to consume in order to stay alive, and humans are no exception.
  My family raised me to believe that not only humans but all living beings and natural things deserve respect.
  Property should only be destroyed if no living thing is going to be hurt.
2. 2.2with adjective Used to express one's feelings of pity, affection, approval, or contempt for a person or animal.
  表示不赞成、轻蔑（这类）东西；（此等）烂货
  have a nice weekend in the country, you lucky thing!
  在乡下过个愉快的周末，你这幸运的家伙！
  the lamb was a puny little thing
  那羊羔是个瘦弱的小东西。
  Synonyms
  person, soul, creature, wretch
  informal devil, beggar, bunny, bastard
  British vulgar slang sod, bugger
3An action, event, thought, or utterance.
行动；活动；事件；想法；话
she said the first thing that came into her head
她说话不假思索。
the only thing I could do well was cook
我惟一能做好的事是做饭。
Example sentencesExamples
- He said it was very difficult not being able to work and doing the same thing day after day.
- Yes, he had to go and in going he did the last honourable thing open to him.
- The frigid old crone who taught us made copulation seem like the most boring thing possible.
- You should thus try to convince your husband that such a thing is not socially acceptable.
- This sort of thing happened quite often when Nathaniel was given a shock.
- I don't enjoy shopping but wandering a mall with Wendy and Mark can be a fun thing.
- The most important thing management can do is to stay in touch with the people who do the real work in the company.
- The British Championships are now half way through and so far have been quite a close run thing.
- Get out of the armchair, do things you enjoy and things you think will make a difference.
- Blowing the whistle on any illegal or unethical activities is the right thing to do.
- Born of all the distress of that situation came the one thing that I was truly unprepared for.
- They are convinced they did the right thing in reporting the activities of the two youths.
- The only thing enterprises could do was mass produce, regardless of market feedback.
- The use of any part of any creature for this type of thing is quite unacceptable.
- There is one girl in my class who constantly says funny things which I wish I could remember later.
- If there is one thing referee Michael Jones doesn't do, it's play to the crowd.
- At the awards ceremony, the pair said they would do the same thing again if the situation arose.
- One minute a team is going great, then a couple of putts go in or stay out and the whole thing switches round the other way.
- On the way back the worst thing possible that could happen in a car happened.
- Say what you will, but I believe the majority of people would do the same thing in our situation.
Synonyms
activity
act, action, deed, undertaking, exploit, feat
task, job, chore, piece of business
thought, notion, idea, concept, conception
concern, matter, worry, preoccupation
remark, statement, comment, utterance, observation, declaration, pronouncement
incident, episode, event, happening, occurrence, eventuality, phenomenon
1. 3.1things Circumstances or matters that are unspecified.
  局面；情况；形势
  things haven't gone entirely to plan
  形势还没有完全按计划发展。
  how are things with you?
  你情况如何？
  Example sentencesExamples
  Challenge your beliefs about the bad things that might happen if you show your emotions.
  The other alternative is to sit on the sidelines and wish that things were different.
  Not for one instant, no matter how tough things got, would I have quit a fight.
  The good thing about gallows humour is no matter how bad things get you can always find some wag ready to crack a joke.
  I told Jacques to press this with all his might and not back down, no matter how dire things looked.
  We worked hard and we fought hard, and I wish that things had turned out a little differently.
  No matter how bad things get, you must never think that God does not exist.
  You hear a lot of longtime residents lament that they wish things were the way they used to be.
  I remember we complained to one another at the time and thought how we wish things could change.
  Even now, two years on, Smith struggles to describe exactly why things went so wrong.
  Many people no longer believe in our capacity to control events and change things for the better.
  There are times when I wish things were different, if only because the people deserve better.
  We can try and come up with ways of making things better, no matter how tough that may be.
  The kiss of love is the kiss of life and no matter how badly things have been going, it's the kiss that heals.
  It seems like the lesson here is to let things slide, no matter how painful things get.
  The child also perceives that things are going well living with his grandmother.
  But it's hard to tell this close to the event exactly how things are going to change.
  That is to say, he used it as an example of how bad things can get if we don't act soon enough.
  I now realise that all is not lost, no matter how bad things get, all is never lost.
  It was doubtful, she knew, but nevertheless, she wished things had not ended the way they did.
  Synonyms
  matters, affairs, circumstances, conditions, relations
  state of affairs, situation, life
2. 3.2 An abstract entity, quality, or concept.
  （抽象的）事情；概念
  mourning and depression are not the same thing
  哀伤与沮丧是两码事。
  they had one thing in common—they were men of action
  他们有一个共同的特征——都是实干家。
  Example sentencesExamples
  If there's one thing life so far has taught me, it's that you can't hide from reality.
  Accept there's no such thing as the perfect partner but you can get pretty close.
  This is not the sort of thing where we require the law to protect us from ourselves.
  As I walked through the cold steel passageways, every room I entered had the same thing in common.
  The only thing we had in common was that we were both appalled and shamed by the Waynes of this world.
  In any case, if there is one thing Italians do not naturally embrace it is change.
  The question of his virtue is of course quite another thing altogether.
  We could easily end up in a situation where the only thing left is, in a sense, the shadow of a monarchy.
  We realised how our hobby was the thing we had in common and the most important part of that was sharing.
  Yes, quality is the only thing that matters when we are talking about export education.
  It is not at all necessary, though, that such a concept or such a thing exist.
  He admits he has always tended to obsess over things, these obsessions being mostly musical.
  What they fail to consider is the harsh reality that there is no such thing as a new morality.
  The one thing patients want out of the inquiry is for lessons to be learned.
  The limits of our knowledge is one of the things that fascinates me most.
  The only thing they have in common are the double rather than single quotation marks around them.
  To pretend otherwise is not only an insult to those efforts but it also implies there is no such thing as social change.
  There seemed to be no such thing as third time lucky for the Sliding Rock mine.
  A concept that has too many clothes may in the end be the same thing as a concept that has none.
  Of course, this is the type of thing that the media would be all over if it were a Republican.
  Synonyms
  characteristic, quality, attribute, property, trait, feature, point, aspect, facet, element
  fact, piece of information, point, detail, particular, factor
3. 3.3 An example or type of something.
  实例；类型
  the game is the latest thing in family fun
  这个游戏是家庭娱乐中最新型的一种。
  Example sentencesExamples
  The young girl appeared oblivious to what he was up to; Martin guessed she did this sort of thing quite often.
  The bottom line is society hasn't opened up much to accept this kind of thing.
  I've never been a fan of that sort of thing but with fashion being what it is these days I let her have it done.
  They are the kind of thing that lead us to react in ways which are far graver than the damage they do.
  There was a time when really this thing was not taken as seriously as it should have been.
4. 3.4informal with adjective or noun modifier A situation or activity of a specified type or quality.
  〈非正式〉特定的情况（或活动）
  your being here is just a friendship thing, OK?
  你在这儿恰恰就是一个友好的举动，明白吗？
  Example sentencesExamples
  I'm doing the premiere party thing tonight, so will have something to say about it tomorrow.
  But there was almost a reluctance to do sculpture, because it was such a family thing.
  She was afraid because this modeling thing was a new situation so removed from her reality.
  You can see the genuine affection there and it's not a showbiz couple thing.
  Subman, who has a few years on me, went on and did the family thing, put on a few kilos, and gave up surfing.
  The older son thing requires its own space, so the telling will be separate, if it happens.
  In the early days, punk was a Northern thing, and more specifically, a Manchester thing.
  It has always been a family thing—we used to drive out in a bike and side-car when our two sons were small.
  Synonyms
  matters, affairs, circumstances, conditions, relations
5. 3.5informal A romantic or sexual relationship.
  Phil and Lisa had been having a thing
  Example sentencesExamples
  Asked about the rumoured relationship in an interview, she insisted: We've never had a thing.
  Trevor had a thing with her sister and got her pregnant, so there's a big backstory there.
  Rob's been having problems with his girlfriend and it's being said that the problem is because Rob and Kayleigh might be having a thing.
  Danny loves Taylor, and Kylie has a thing with Sam.
  He and Jack finally have a thing going on and then he dies.
  OMG I didn't know he and Kirsten had a thing.
  Julian had a thing with Shelby and Candace had a thing with an anonymous stranger.
  Husband had a thing with the babysitter, who then moves in with husband and child.
6. 3.6informal An established or genuine phenomenon or practice (typically used in expressions registering surprise or incredulity)
  according to media reports, sleep texting is now a thing among serious smartphone addicts
  he looks like he's wearing boxers underneath his trunks (is that a thing?)
  Example sentencesExamples
  Miller's sporting a string of very fashionable Fair Isle sweaters, so is that a thing now?
  Is it a thing now to throw Barbie dolls on stage during a concert?
  He cries some more, since that is a thing this season.
  Here are the 10 Dos and Don'ts of Facebook-stalking your crush, if that's still a thing now.
  Winter white may work in November, but winter egg-shell blue is definitely not a thing.
  I'm not sure if anyone was trading butter for dessert, but bartering at restaurants is a thing.
  Add some pizazz to your pregnancy by body-painting your baby bump (seriously, this is a thing).
  Kind of sad that having a glucose-measuring device for your kids is a thing now, worthy of a feature.
  Georgio, I can tell how old you are, because the kids today probably don't know that candy cigarettes were ever a thing.
  If Heather's reading, we have a feeling her goal was hipster biker chic, but please know that is not now and will never be a thing.
4the thinginformal What is needed or required.
〈非正式〉需要的东西
you need a tonic—and here's just the thing
你得进补——这正是你要的东西。
1. 4.1 What is socially acceptable or fashionable.
  最适合（或最时髦）的东西
  it wouldn't be quite the thing to go to a royal garden party in wellies
  穿着橡胶筒靴去参加皇家花园晚会是很不合时宜的。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Around the time of Michael and A Life Less Ordinary, angels were quite the thing.
  Apparently it's quite the thing to drop out of society for months and take to the rivers and byways.
  At the newcomer level, sketch shows seem quite the thing.
  Synonyms
  fashionable, in fashion, in vogue, popular, all the rage
  French le dernier cri
  informal trendy, cool, in, the in thing, big, with it, hip, happening, now
5one's thinginformal One's special interest or inclination.
〈非正式〉爱好，关切的事
reading isn't my thing
阅读不是我的爱好。
Synonyms
what one likes, what interests one
informal one's cup of tea, one's bag, what turns one on, what floats one's boat
6the thinginformal Used to introduce or emphasize an important point.
the thing is, I am going to sell this house
重要的是我打算卖掉这房子。
here's the thing: this is a story, not a piece of hard news
that's the thing about style—no two people are completely alike
Example sentencesExamples
- And the thing is, China is trying to make Japan fess up to its brutal crimes of history.
- ‘But the thing was, of course, you got your revenge when it came to your turn,’ he says with relish.
- But the thing is, students will google while they write whether they're forbidden to or not.
- But the thing is, the rail network is not likely to make any more leaps and bounds if it keeps being shirky and apologetic.
- It was almost 20 years ago, and the thing was, it was introducing a revolutionary product.
- And the thing is, just two days back I put through an insurance plan for myself.
- I hope not, but the thing is, I don't necessarily want to become a famous filmmaker.
- I know I've said that I like winter, and cold weather, but the thing is, I like it in winter!
- But the thing is, a website is not a therapy session, and I lost a little discipline there for a bit.
- But the thing is that players are remembered for their deeds on the pitch, not in the media.
- But the thing is for all the DVDs in the world, what I really want is music - good music.
- Yes, but the thing is that we have got to start preventing some of these diseases.
- But the thing is, Prof Kaufmann has been through the old reports again recently.
- Yes, but the thing is, though, he said he wants to plea bargain so he gets out of the death penalty.
- You know, the thing was, Australia was really held to ransom there, as far as I'm concerned.
- As far as the Rove story, the thing is that Washington journalists are actually involved.
- And the thing is, I'm not sure that the broadcasters ever said what sin the question actually referred to.
- And the thing is, the things they're scared of are not the same things that we're scared of.
- Well, the thing was that I was busy Saturday, tired out Sunday, and feeling apathetic Monday.
- And the thing is, he is not even good looking, rich, or whatever criteria makes guys popular!
Synonyms
fact of the matter, fact, point, issue, problem

Phrases

be all things to all men (or people)

1Please 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
Example sentencesExamples
- We do have an obligation, but we can't be all things to all people.
- I believe that you cannot, at all times, try to be all things to all people.
- And it may require the reallocation of some of our resources, and we're going to have to understand that we can't be all things to all people.
- The ABC can never be all things to all people, but it can be the means by which different Australians talk to each other.
- Of course, just as SAC cannot be all things to all people, the cultural strategy will not please everyone or meet all needs.
- The Liberals want to be all things to all people.
- The government can't be all things to all people.
- Simply put, like the Toronto event, it is expected to be all things to all people.
- I'd like to just say that politicians would like to be all things to all people.
- It was a superb attempt to be all things to all men that culminated in a result that made everyone happy.
1. 1.1Be able to be interpreted or used differently by different people.
  能使人人满意；悉随人意
  multimedia is all things to all men
  Example sentencesExamples
  The time is past for newspapers to be all things to all people.
  You may not be able to be all things to all people, but when it comes to dairy packaging, the industry is sure trying.
  A local paper cannot be all things to all people but what it can aim for is to have something to interest a range of people from different walks of life.
  ‘You're asking a piece of wood to be all things to all people,’ he says.
  These products would still use all the cool underlying Mozilla technology, but no longer would they try to be all things to all people, all at once.
  We decided to make the flower show element excellent rather than trying to be all things to all people.
  ‘Radio 1 tries to be all things to all people in terms of the music that it covers,’ Bryce argues.
  Unix doesn't have to be all things to all people to be a great system; I don't understand why its fans can't accept that.
  Like all plans, it works for some and not for others - no plan can be all things to all people.
  It is trying to be all things to all people, while selling upmarket food.

be on to a good thing

informal Have found a job or other situation that is pleasant, profitable, or easy.
〈非正式〉找到合适或待遇高的工作；过着舒适的生活
many directors who take dividends in lieu of salary think they are on to a good thing
Example sentencesExamples
- He said: ‘If you are on to a good thing you stick with it.’
- For his part, Mr Cowdery is convinced he is on to a good thing.
- Those masters were on to a good thing, for a while.
- They took advantage of the new government's inexperience at the time and, knowing that it was their first project, knew they were on to a good thing and exploited the situation to the fullest.
- It doesn't take long before people catch on to a good thing.
- He said: ‘I reckoned that there was enough demand to set up a specialist company, and when my wife also agreed, then I knew we were on to a good thing.’
- Standard Life Investments proved last week it knows when it is on to a good thing by launching a second European private equity fund which will undoubtedly be one of the largest and most significant launches by a Scottish house this year.
- So I feel that not enough is being done to persuade people to give up because the government know that they're on to a good thing with the tobacco trade.
- He has plenty to chew on, but that is not necessarily a bad thing: should it all fall into place, he could well be on to a good thing.
- The duo knew they were on to a good thing when they first previewed at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002 to packed audiences.

be hearing (or seeing) things

Imagine that one can hear (or see) something that is not in fact there.
产生幻觉，见神见鬼
the first time I spotted a puffin I thought I was seeing things
Example sentencesExamples
- He blinked and then refocused, convinced he was seeing things.
- I convinced myself that I was seeing things and kept walking.
- At first I thought I was hearing things or maybe it was crows or seagulls.
- Approaching the bridge, we thought we were seeing things!
- Mark shook his head once again, as if he were seeing things.
- I was going to tell her she was hearing things and to go back to sleep when I heard the sound of breaking furniture below.
- At first Melissa had always said Leah was seeing things, now she knew Leah was telling the truth.
- She thought she was seeing things until another bolt of lightening lit up the room.
- I stared at her and wondered if I was seeing things.
- She is hearing things, imagining them, she knows she is.

a close (or near) thing

A narrow avoidance of something unpleasant.
极险的事，死里逃生
we got him out, but it was a close thing
Example sentencesExamples
- Theodosius also built a second set of walls around Constantinople (it had been a near thing with the Visigoths) and made Christianity the official religion of the Empire.
- The Franks had had a near thing after the Field of Blood, but Tyre and Azaz had somewhat redressed the balance.
- He managed to put out a hand to the wall just in time, but it was a near thing.
- It was a near miss as far as I was concerned, a close thing.
- It was a close thing, but he managed to miss the vein by a hair.
- It was a close thing for me too, but I was young, and have a healthy heart and I lasted the whole half-hour of assault.
- That was a close thing and even more dramatic than the story as told here on Saturday.
- It was a near thing this time.

do one's own thing

informal Follow one's own interests or inclinations regardless of others.
〈非正式〉做自己爱做的事；按自己的意愿行事
they don't seem to be a couple, they just seem to be two people who do their own thing
Example sentencesExamples
- However, there are too many individuals doing their own thing.
- It's just that everybody's doing their own thing.
- The only way forward is for us all to work together; we can't have sport on one side and everyone else doing their own thing.
- ‘It was that teenage thing of doing your own thing as a student,’ Diana recalls.
- That is what you have to create at a club, not 15 individuals doing their own thing.
- It's just a case of going out there and doing your own thing.
- Though we did walk together as a group, everyone was virtually doing their own thing.
- It's always welcome to find a band that are not following the crowd and really doing their own thing.
- We were always independent, doing our own thing.
- People began to think about doing their own thing.

do the — thing

informal Engage in the kind of behaviour typically associated with someone or something.
〈非正式，主北美〉做…事
a film in which he does the bad-guy thing
一部他在里面饰演坏人的影片。
Example sentencesExamples
- He got the crowd doing the waving arms thing.
- While we're doing the media thing, might as well be time for a roundup.
- Oh I'm definitely gonna do the sneakers thing, we're all doing it.
- Can we do the whole presentations thing tomorrow?
- He is just doing the no drinking thing to keep me happy.
- We watched a game, had a few beers, did the lads thing, and generally I had a ball.
- I resisted the temptation to do the charades thing that indicates it's a book.
- He noticed she was a carrying a book or two and decided to do the gentlemen thing.
- I don't do the tests thing very often these days.
- I don't do the whole meeting-the-parents thing.

do things to

informal Have a powerful emotional effect on.
〈非正式〉对…施加显著影响；使受震撼
it just does things to me when we kiss
我们亲吻时我兴奋不已。
Example sentencesExamples
- Apologies to my Portugese and Brazilian readers for confusing your beautiful language with the other one - it was the chocolate you know - it does things to my brain.
- It's an amazing thing to raise a child - it does things to you.
- Unforunately, the bravado of temporary office sometimes does things to people.
- Inspiring, amazing, and proving that in an age where film, TV, novels and the internet dominate, a truly magical piece of theatre can still do things to your feelings and emotions that no other media can.
- In other words, pop is conceived of as an aesthetic object which is contemplated and ‘enjoyed’ by a transcendent subject, not as something which has effects on a body, which does things to you.
- Maybe it's this country that does things to us.

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.
首先，一则
Why hadn't he arranged to see her at the house? For one thing, it would have been warmer
他当时为什么不安排在屋里见她？首先，屋里会比较暖和。
Example sentencesExamples
- It's got him onto the health pages of the Telegraph, for one thing.
- Well, for one thing, there's a self-defence issue here which may justify the use of lethal force by the police officer.
- He flags his surprise endings far too far in advance, for one thing.
- One cannot lament its influence, for one thing because to do so would be useless.
- Not that I was inclined to go round: for one thing, I had no idea what to say.
- Well, for one thing, the cast of characters apparently has spread out all over the country.
- Well, for one thing, writing a shocking story has been, historically, one way to bring yourself to public attention.
- I think he wants to see how people are raising money in his wife's name, for one thing.
- It's far too noisy, for one thing, plus we're all phenomenally busy, a fact that should delight upper management.
- Class, for one thing, appears to have changed radically while the Queen remains.

have a thing about

informal Have a strong liking for or dislike of.
〈非正式〉对…有一种病态（或强烈）的爱好（或厌恶）；对…抱有偏见
she had a thing about men who wore glasses
她特喜欢（或讨厌）戴眼镜的男人。
I've always had a thing about mirrors—I can't have one near my bed
Example sentencesExamples
- Macdonald has a thing about beaches; she can't say why, she just likes them.
- And he had a thing about not looking directly at her.
- Some people have a thing about their thighs, stomach or numerous chins.
- He had a thing about redheads and he liked singers.
- For a brief period during my childhood I had a thing about boxing.
- ‘Men have a thing about high heels,’ said sex shop manager Justin Parr.
- I have a thing about sumptuously comfortable beds.
- She's lovely although she has a thing about climbing.
- I've always had a thing about travelling light.
- And, perhaps as a result, I've always had a thing about not eating too many sweets, although this never seemed to extend to alcohol.
Synonyms
phobia, fear, horror, terror
penchant for, preference for, taste for, inclination for, partiality for, predilection for, soft spot for, weakness for, fancy for, fondness for, liking for, love for, passion for

have a thing for

informal Have a strong liking for.
I think he has a bit of a thing for you
Example sentencesExamples
- She's the young hotshot of the woman's tennis circuit and she seems to have a thing for Peter.
- Dana had a thing for chocolate - or candy in general.
- He was a little miffed at Trevor's comment about him having a thing for Susie.
- I think he has a bit of a thing for you.
- He has a thing for annoying me though.
- When we last left our heroes, Rachel had just found out that Ross has long had a thing for her.
- She and I have a thing for the movies and never miss the opening night of anything.
- People will think I really do have a thing for meteorites.
- He's talk, dark and handsome and has a thing for British beauties.
- She apparently had a thing for smart guys.
Synonyms
phobia, fear, horror, terror
penchant for, preference for, taste for, inclination for, partiality for, predilection for, soft spot for, weakness for, fancy for, fondness for, liking for, love for, passion for

— 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.
…是一回事，…又是另一回事
physical attraction was one thing, love was quite another
外表的吸引是一回事，爱情可就另当别论。

make a (big) thing of (or about)

informal Make (something) seem more important than it actually is.
〈非正式〉把…看做必要，认为…必不可少
Meadows made a big thing of paying the bill
Example sentencesExamples
- Should I just let it slide, or make a big thing of it?
- And, of course, my friends across the aisle have made a big thing about that.
- The news is making a big thing of it because he's gay.
- I think they are probably looking for something to make a thing about.
- My mother did not make a big thing of it, but it was impossible to ignore.

of all things

Out of all conceivable possibilities (used to express surprise)
（表示惊讶）偏偏；真没想到，怎么搞的
What had he been thinking about? A kitten, of all things!
他一直在想什么呢？竟然是一只小猫。
Example sentencesExamples
- I drove, of all things, an Alfa diesel, and it was a glorious experience.
- They both studied, of all things, Portuguese literature and translation.
- I sat back and watched as the two of them fought each other for a picture, of all things.
- The company blamed its dismal performance on, of all things, Valentine's Day falling on a Friday.
- Well the government, of all things, has called for expressions of interest just recently.
- Our only used bookstore has gone, to be replaced by a pawnshop, of all things.
- He spent a few years in England in industry making, of all things, vials for medicines.
- The bizarre thing about the unsavoury incident was that the irate individual was himself, of all things, a referee.
- She was shocked that someone had been as cruel as to shoot the duck and, of all things, with a crossbow.
- He went to London University for a degree in, of all things, theology.

(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.
〈非正式〉命里注定的事，不可避免的事；必须接受（或承认）的事
I didn't manage to go on the tour of Australia, but that was just one of those things
Example sentencesExamples
- Sometimes I just chalk it down to one of those things and try and move on with my life.
- We were in the lead at the time, but it was one of those things.
- It is just one of those things you have to accept.
- ‘It's just one of those things,’ said founder member Beatrice Brown.
- If I have to move on and the money could be used to help the club relocate then it's one of those things.
- Unfortunately, is hasn't and it's just one of those things.
- He said: ‘There were no outward physical signs that the tree was rotten and going to come down, it was just one of those things.’
- ‘It was nobody's fault what happened in Turkey, it was just one of those things,’ added Alan.
- If cycling is one way to sort out York's traffic problems, how come the frequent theft of bikes is brushed off as one of those things?
- ‘What has happened is just one of those things and is not the club's fault but I am still very sad about it,’ said Hamilton.

one thing after another

A series of problems or difficulties.
it's one thing after another with this kid
Example sentencesExamples
- He said: "It's one thing after another at this club at the moment; I feel like I've been let down by the team and I can't understand why."
- Now, this year alone, the show has been plagued by one thing after another.
- Even as one thing after another goes wrong, he's still a lovable goof who loses his temper but never lets it get the best of him.
- One thing after another crowded in upon me, demanding attention and pushing further down the list the things that really mattered.
- I had been virtually injury free all season and then in the last few weeks I seem to have suffered one thing after another.
- Every time I try to get my new blog working I hit another problem, it's just one thing after another.
- He worked hard as a farmer, but one thing after another worked against him and he never progressed very far.
- Our heroes undergo setbacks and minor triumphs, disasters and near-disasters, even scrapes with death - one thing after another.
- "It's been one thing after another with that shed," Cameron said, "We've been trying for ages to see if somebody wants it. There was nothing we could do in the end."
- It was just one thing after another after another, but we never felt like giving up.

one thing leads to another

Used to suggest that the exact sequence of events is too obvious to need recounting.
事情接踵而来
he offered me a lift home one night and one thing led to another
Example sentencesExamples
- But one thing leads to another, as smokers, dieters and alcoholics all know only too well.
- And one thing leads to another and on and on it goes.
- Anyway it's also fun to see how one thing leads to another.
- And one thing leads to another and then pretty soon, both people are in this violent dilemma.
- Like so many things in life, one thing leads to another.

there is only one thing for it

There is only one possible course of action.
只有一条出路
there was only one thing for it—she would have to open the parcel
Example sentencesExamples
- There was only one thing for it: a complete personality transplant.
- The dog-loving double act decided there was only one thing for it.
- Following acupuncture, hypnotherapy and support groups, there's only one thing for it: therapy.
- And I definitely didn't want my Mom asking him anymore questions, so there was only one thing for it.
- There's only one thing for it if you're a student.
- There was only one thing for it: throw them out of the window.
- There is only one thing for it: I will fast till tea time, and do sit-ups on the hour.
- There's only one thing for it: I'll have to buy it another.
- If there's water blocking your way there's only one thing for it: you've got to swim.
- There's only one thing for it, thought the messenger.

(now) there's a thing

informal Used as an expression of surprise.
〈非正式〉竟然这样，竟至如此
Example sentencesExamples
- Now, there's a thing: ‘a persistent irritating critic; a nuisance.’
- ‘Well,’ he murmured instead, gazing down at Brandark's relaxed face and listening to his even, sleeping breath, ‘now there's a thing!’
- In my defence, I see the beautiful countryside every day, I am spoilt with green hills but real shops, now there's a thing I rarely get to see in this paradise.
- ‘Well, there's a thing,’ she said to no one in particular.
- Now there's a thing I'd not thought myself likely to be missing!
- Now there's a thing: nice to see that no matter what happens, politicians still stay the same.

a thing of the past

A thing that no longer happens or exists.
过去的事情，陈年往事
house-price booms were seen as a thing of the past
Example sentencesExamples
- Dressing up for a meeting with your accountant may soon be a thing of the past.
- But for one group of tots, such light-hearted activity could be a thing of the past.
- Actually, in some parts of the world this is becoming a thing of the past.
- The habit of walking children to school is mostly a thing of the past.
- The guide suggests that Britain is now a truly united kingdom with the north-south divide a thing of the past.

a thing or two

informal Used to refer to useful information that can be imparted or learned.
〈非正式〉应该知道的事情；值得了解的情况；知识，经验
Teddy taught me a thing or two about wine
特迪教给我一些关于葡萄酒的知识。
Example sentencesExamples
- He was older and had been with a few women older than himself who had taught him a thing or two.
- It is rich in culture and scenery and could teach us Irish a thing or two about how we care for our environment.
- As he grew up, though, he discovered a thing or two that made him change his mind.
- Now that's where we could show those other countries a thing or two.
- Our children may only be starting out on life's learning curve, but they could teach us a thing or two.
- Katy was more than grateful to her mother for teaching her a thing or two about first aid.
- Perhaps the Wiltshire trusts could learn a thing or two from that!
- My brother taught me a thing or two, the rest I learnt from magazines and tapes.
- With adventures like these, you are going to have a great time and learn a thing or two.
- However, having served 12 years in the Royal Navy, Richard knew a thing or two about spit and polish.

things that go bump in the night

humorous, informal Unexplained and frightening noises at night, regarded as being caused by ghosts.
〈非正式，幽默〉半夜鬼叫声，晚间不可思议的声音
the fear of long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night
Example sentencesExamples
- ‘Only things that go bump in the night,’ Alexander said.
- You are thinking about things that go bump in the night and monsters under your bed and vampires peering at you through your window.
- I have a fear of things that go bump in the night.
- But what of the other things that go bump in the night?
- As a youngster I had a dreadful fear of ghost stories and things that go bump in the night.
- Meanwhile, professional ghost-finders are set to launch a three-day festival in York dedicated to the things that go bump in the night.
- If you're not afraid of the dark or things that go bump in the night you will at least have the nerve to make it through the audition.
- He makes great use of silence and subtle sounds to remind us that the only thing scarier to a child than hearing the things that go bump in the night is not hearing them.
- It was an active search for things that go bump in the night in the castle-filled countrysides of Scotland and Ireland.
- Don't get neurotic about things that go bump in the night!

Origin

Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Ding. Early senses included 'meeting' and 'matter, concern' as well as 'inanimate object'.

Just about anything can be called a thing, but in Old English it first meant ‘a meeting, an assembly’ or ‘a court, a council’. The word developed through ‘a matter brought before a court’ and ‘a concern, an affair’ to its more general modern senses. To be all things to all men can mean either ‘to attempt to please everyone’ or ‘to be able to be used differently by different people’. The expression probably goes back to a biblical verse in the First Epistle to the Corinthians: ‘I am made all things to all men.’ Odd sounds at night can be alarming, but if you are frightened you could recite ‘The Cornish or West Country Litany’, a traditional prayer which runs: ‘From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggety beasties / And things that go bump in the night, / Good Lord, deliver us!’ This has given us the expression things that go bump in the night for ghosts and supernatural beings. After a certain age everyone can be struck by the gloomy thought that things ain't what they used to be. The phrase originated as the title of a song by Ted Persons in 1941. The idiom do one's (own) thing is recorded from the mid 19th century, but it did not become widespread until the 1960s during the hippie culture; have a thing with (somebody) dates from this same decade.

Rhymes

Beijing, bing, bring, Chungking, cling, ding, dingaling, fling, I Ching, king, Kunming, ling, Ming, Nanjing, Peking, ping, ring, sing, Singh, sling, spring, sting, string, swing, Synge, ting, wing, wring, Xining, zing

Definition of thing in US English:

thing

nounTHiNGθɪŋ

1An object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to.
东西
look at that metal rail thing over there
瞧那儿那个金属栏杆状的东西。
there are lots of things I'd like to buy
有许多我想买的东西。
she was wearing this pink thing
她当时穿着这件粉红的东西。
Example sentencesExamples
- We went out to find some dinner and of course the only thing open was the chippie.
- Quite simply, the thing won't work without the base scanning the skies for missiles.
- Yefu took only a few necessary things with him, including a cup, a mobile phone, and bedding.
- Helen has the material things many would envy, but she is desperately trying to break free.
- All in the name of testing new materials for things like planes and spacecraft.
- Lia wished the thing he had given her would just vibrate; a feeling of unease rested in the pit of her stomach.
- I put this thing on and looked in the mirror and it was like I had turned into a cartoon.
- Get an idea of prices by going to lots of shops that carry the kind of thing that interests you.
- He just wasn't into material things, but he did like to drink and get laid.
- Margalo looked them up and down for the thing she had required both of them to bring.
- If this thing goes out again, it'll cost as much to repair it as it will to replace it.
- The pink thing beside her is her G-string which she took out and decided not to wear back.
- If you had all the money you could wish for, name three things you would purchase.
- If you look at photos from way back, when you were a kid, the fashions date the thing.
- Everyone is opting for the thing that sells the easiest and requires the least amount of work.
- Didn't I say last night I would go to Croydon to spend a small fortune on things for my living room.
- My suitcase contains many things but one thing you can be sure of is that I've probably not got enough pants.
- I did that thing that lots of blokes do when presented with a thing that has instructions.
Synonyms
object, article, item, artefact, commodity
1. 1.1things Personal belongings or clothing.
  （个人的）所有（衣）物
  she began to unpack her things
  她开始解开自己的行装。
  Synonyms
  belongings, possessions, stuff, property, worldly goods, goods, personal effects, effects, paraphernalia, impedimenta, bits and pieces, bits and bobs
2. 1.2thingswith modifier Objects, equipment, or utensils used for a particular purpose.
  物品，用具，用品
  they cleared away the last few lunch things
  他们清理了最后的几件午餐用具。
  Synonyms
  equipment, apparatus, gear, kit, tackle, stuff
3. 1.3a thingwith negative Anything (used for emphasis)
  用于强调任何东西
  she couldn't find a thing to wear
  她找不到一件可穿的东西。
  Example sentencesExamples
  He could pick and choose as he pleased and he wouldn't have to worry about a single damn thing.
  We can't have anything like that, we've never done a thing like this before.
  She felt as if she could just get lost in his eyes forever and not ever have a thing to worry about.
  They were absolutely not worried about a thing until I put on a robe and then Stellan screamed the house down.
  I'll let them know what you have planned for us tonight, so don't worry about a thing.
  They know exactly what they're doing and in that respect I don't have a thing to worry about.
4. 1.4 Used to express one's disapproval of or contempt for something.
  表示不赞成、轻蔑（这类）东西；（此等）烂货
  you won't find me smoking those filthy things
  你不会发现我抽那类肮脏的东西。
5. 1.5thingswith postpositive adjective All that can be described in the specified way.
  特定的事物
  his love for all things Italian
  他对所有与英语有关的事物的喜爱。
  Example sentencesExamples
  He seems to have developed a penchant for all things good, wholesome and American.
  O'Hagan did not always have such seething contempt for all things Caledonian.
  His fascination with all things Chopper also extends to the world wide web.
6. 1.6 Used euphemistically to refer to a man's penis.
  〈婉〉阴茎
2An inanimate material object as distinct from a living sentient being.
（无生命的）物
I'm not a thing, not a work of art to be cherished
我不是物品，不是一件供珍藏的艺术品。
1. 2.1with adjective A living creature or plant.
  生物；植物
  the sea is the primal source of all living things on earth
  海洋是地球上所有生物的最初起源地。
  Example sentencesExamples
  Now, obviously, the presence of living things on Earth runs counter to this rule.
  It is our sense of interconnection with all living things that brings us to respect the rights of animals.
  Lead is toxic to every living thing and adversely affects every system in the body.
  There isn't a living thing which doesn't alter its natural environment in some way.
  The trees protected by this bill are among the oldest, tallest, and largest living things on earth.
  Living things search for their own fuel, and at times have to regulate their own temperatures.
  Any living thing which brought life and movement to stir the sullen stillness of it all would be silenced.
  My family raised me to believe that not only humans but all living beings and natural things deserve respect.
  Clearly all living things need to consume in order to stay alive, and humans are no exception.
  I know that I will continue to be amazed and absorbed by the mystery of living things.
  Fossils are relics of living things that tell us something about the past.
  This consideration must surely tell us that all living things were not made for man.
  I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on the earth.
  DNA is the common thread that links every living thing with a single primeval ancestor.
  Property should only be destroyed if no living thing is going to be hurt.
  We scooped up margarine tubs full of pond water and saw a host of living things in our little container.
  It sets out to establish an equilibrium in the use of carbon, the material of living things.
  The creation story in Genesis established an account for the origin of living things.
  Nothing grew on its land, and no living thing was reared in its sheds and barns.
  It must take a heartless person to even be able to carry out experiments on any living thing.
2. 2.2with adjective Used to express and give a reason for one's pity, affection, approval, or contempt for a person or animal.
  （带有怜悯、爱、赞成或轻蔑等情感）人；家伙，东西
  have a nice weekend in the country, you lucky thing!
  在乡下过个愉快的周末，你这幸运的家伙！
  the lamb was a puny little thing
  那羊羔是个瘦弱的小东西。
  Synonyms
  person, soul, creature, wretch
3An action, activity, event, thought, or utterance.
行动；活动；事件；想法；话
she said the first thing that came into her head
她说话不假思索。
the only thing I could do well was cook
我惟一能做好的事是做饭。
Example sentencesExamples
- The only thing enterprises could do was mass produce, regardless of market feedback.
- Say what you will, but I believe the majority of people would do the same thing in our situation.
- Blowing the whistle on any illegal or unethical activities is the right thing to do.
- He said it was very difficult not being able to work and doing the same thing day after day.
- On the way back the worst thing possible that could happen in a car happened.
- Born of all the distress of that situation came the one thing that I was truly unprepared for.
- The frigid old crone who taught us made copulation seem like the most boring thing possible.
- They are convinced they did the right thing in reporting the activities of the two youths.
- One minute a team is going great, then a couple of putts go in or stay out and the whole thing switches round the other way.
- I don't enjoy shopping but wandering a mall with Wendy and Mark can be a fun thing.
- There is one girl in my class who constantly says funny things which I wish I could remember later.
- If there is one thing referee Michael Jones doesn't do, it's play to the crowd.
- This sort of thing happened quite often when Nathaniel was given a shock.
- The British Championships are now half way through and so far have been quite a close run thing.
- You should thus try to convince your husband that such a thing is not socially acceptable.
- The most important thing management can do is to stay in touch with the people who do the real work in the company.
- The use of any part of any creature for this type of thing is quite unacceptable.
- Get out of the armchair, do things you enjoy and things you think will make a difference.
- Yes, he had to go and in going he did the last honourable thing open to him.
- At the awards ceremony, the pair said they would do the same thing again if the situation arose.
Synonyms
activity
thought, notion, idea, concept, conception
remark, statement, comment, utterance, observation, declaration, pronouncement
incident, episode, event, happening, occurrence, eventuality, phenomenon
1. 3.1things Circumstances, conditions, or matters that are unspecified.
  局面；情况；形势
  things haven't gone entirely according to plan
  形势还没有完全按计划发展。
  how are things with you?
  你情况如何？
  Example sentencesExamples
  It seems like the lesson here is to let things slide, no matter how painful things get.
  You hear a lot of longtime residents lament that they wish things were the way they used to be.
  I told Jacques to press this with all his might and not back down, no matter how dire things looked.
  We can try and come up with ways of making things better, no matter how tough that may be.
  We worked hard and we fought hard, and I wish that things had turned out a little differently.
  Challenge your beliefs about the bad things that might happen if you show your emotions.
  I now realise that all is not lost, no matter how bad things get, all is never lost.
  The other alternative is to sit on the sidelines and wish that things were different.
  Even now, two years on, Smith struggles to describe exactly why things went so wrong.
  It was doubtful, she knew, but nevertheless, she wished things had not ended the way they did.
  I remember we complained to one another at the time and thought how we wish things could change.
  Not for one instant, no matter how tough things got, would I have quit a fight.
  The kiss of love is the kiss of life and no matter how badly things have been going, it's the kiss that heals.
  Many people no longer believe in our capacity to control events and change things for the better.
  But it's hard to tell this close to the event exactly how things are going to change.
  That is to say, he used it as an example of how bad things can get if we don't act soon enough.
  There are times when I wish things were different, if only because the people deserve better.
  The good thing about gallows humour is no matter how bad things get you can always find some wag ready to crack a joke.
  No matter how bad things get, you must never think that God does not exist.
  The child also perceives that things are going well living with his grandmother.
  Synonyms
  matters, affairs, circumstances, conditions, relations
2. 3.2 An abstract entity, quality, or concept.
  （抽象的）事情；概念
  mourning and depression are not the same thing
  哀伤与沮丧是两码事。
  they had one thing in common—they were men of action
  他们有一个共同的特征——都是实干家。
  Example sentencesExamples
  The limits of our knowledge is one of the things that fascinates me most.
  If there's one thing life so far has taught me, it's that you can't hide from reality.
  The only thing we had in common was that we were both appalled and shamed by the Waynes of this world.
  We realised how our hobby was the thing we had in common and the most important part of that was sharing.
  The one thing patients want out of the inquiry is for lessons to be learned.
  The only thing they have in common are the double rather than single quotation marks around them.
  To pretend otherwise is not only an insult to those efforts but it also implies there is no such thing as social change.
  Of course, this is the type of thing that the media would be all over if it were a Republican.
  Accept there's no such thing as the perfect partner but you can get pretty close.
  Yes, quality is the only thing that matters when we are talking about export education.
  In any case, if there is one thing Italians do not naturally embrace it is change.
  What they fail to consider is the harsh reality that there is no such thing as a new morality.
  As I walked through the cold steel passageways, every room I entered had the same thing in common.
  It is not at all necessary, though, that such a concept or such a thing exist.
  A concept that has too many clothes may in the end be the same thing as a concept that has none.
  This is not the sort of thing where we require the law to protect us from ourselves.
  We could easily end up in a situation where the only thing left is, in a sense, the shadow of a monarchy.
  There seemed to be no such thing as third time lucky for the Sliding Rock mine.
  The question of his virtue is of course quite another thing altogether.
  He admits he has always tended to obsess over things, these obsessions being mostly musical.
  Synonyms
  characteristic, quality, attribute, property, trait, feature, point, aspect, facet, element
  fact, piece of information, point, detail, particular, factor
3. 3.3 An example or type of something.
  实例；类型
  the game is the latest thing in family fun
  这个游戏是家庭娱乐中最新型的一种。
  Example sentencesExamples
  There was a time when really this thing was not taken as seriously as it should have been.
  I've never been a fan of that sort of thing but with fashion being what it is these days I let her have it done.
  They are the kind of thing that lead us to react in ways which are far graver than the damage they do.
  The bottom line is society hasn't opened up much to accept this kind of thing.
  The young girl appeared oblivious to what he was up to; Martin guessed she did this sort of thing quite often.
4. 3.4informal with adjective or noun modifier A situation or activity of a specified type or quality.
  〈非正式〉特定的情况（或活动）
  your being here is just a friendship thing, OK?
  你在这儿恰恰就是一个友好的举动，明白吗？
  Example sentencesExamples
  It has always been a family thing—we used to drive out in a bike and side-car when our two sons were small.
  I'm doing the premiere party thing tonight, so will have something to say about it tomorrow.
  The older son thing requires its own space, so the telling will be separate, if it happens.
  You can see the genuine affection there and it's not a showbiz couple thing.
  Subman, who has a few years on me, went on and did the family thing, put on a few kilos, and gave up surfing.
  She was afraid because this modeling thing was a new situation so removed from her reality.
  In the early days, punk was a Northern thing, and more specifically, a Manchester thing.
  But there was almost a reluctance to do sculpture, because it was such a family thing.
  Synonyms
  matters, affairs, circumstances, conditions, relations
5. 3.5informal A romantic or sexual relationship.
  Phil and Lisa had been having a thing
  Example sentencesExamples
  Asked about the rumoured relationship in an interview, she insisted: We've never had a thing.
  Rob's been having problems with his girlfriend and it's being said that the problem is because Rob and Kayleigh might be having a thing.
  Julian had a thing with Shelby and Candace had a thing with an anonymous stranger.
  Husband had a thing with the babysitter, who then moves in with husband and child.
  Trevor had a thing with her sister and got her pregnant, so there's a big backstory there.
  He and Jack finally have a thing going on and then he dies.
  Danny loves Taylor, and Kylie has a thing with Sam.
  OMG I didn't know he and Kirsten had a thing.
6. 3.6informal An established or genuine phenomenon or practice (typically used in expressions registering surprise or incredulity)
  according to media reports, sleep texting is now a thing among serious smartphone addicts
  he looks like he's wearing boxers underneath his trunks (is that a thing?)
  Example sentencesExamples
  Kind of sad that having a glucose-measuring device for your kids is a thing now, worthy of a feature.
  I'm not sure if anyone was trading butter for dessert, but bartering at restaurants is a thing.
  Add some pizazz to your pregnancy by body-painting your baby bump (seriously, this is a thing).
  Winter white may work in November, but winter egg-shell blue is definitely not a thing.
  He cries some more, since that is a thing this season.
  Georgio, I can tell how old you are, because the kids today probably don't know that candy cigarettes were ever a thing.
  If Heather's reading, we have a feeling her goal was hipster biker chic, but please know that is not now and will never be a thing.
  Miller's sporting a string of very fashionable Fair Isle sweaters, so is that a thing now?
  Is it a thing now to throw Barbie dolls on stage during a concert?
  Here are the 10 Dos and Don'ts of Facebook-stalking your crush, if that's still a thing now.
4the thinginformal What is needed or required.
〈非正式〉需要的东西
you need a tonic—and here's just the thing
你得进补——这正是你要的东西。
1. 4.1 What is socially acceptable or fashionable.
  最适合（或最时髦）的东西
  it wouldn't be quite the thing to go to a royal garden party in boots
  穿着橡胶筒靴去参加皇家花园晚会是很不合时宜的。
  Example sentencesExamples
  At the newcomer level, sketch shows seem quite the thing.
  Apparently it's quite the thing to drop out of society for months and take to the rivers and byways.
  Around the time of Michael and A Life Less Ordinary, angels were quite the thing.
  Synonyms
  fashionable, in fashion, in vogue, popular, all the rage
5one's thinginformal One's special interest or concern.
〈非正式〉爱好，关切的事
reading isn't my thing
阅读不是我的爱好。
Synonyms
what one likes, what interests one
6the thinginformal Used to introduce or emphasize an important point.
the thing is, I am going to sell this house
重要的是我打算卖掉这房子。
here's the thing: this is a story, not a piece of hard news
that's the thing about style—no two people are completely alike
Example sentencesExamples
- And the thing is, I'm not sure that the broadcasters ever said what sin the question actually referred to.
- As far as the Rove story, the thing is that Washington journalists are actually involved.
- But the thing is, Prof Kaufmann has been through the old reports again recently.
- I know I've said that I like winter, and cold weather, but the thing is, I like it in winter!
- Yes, but the thing is that we have got to start preventing some of these diseases.
- But the thing is, a website is not a therapy session, and I lost a little discipline there for a bit.
- And the thing is, just two days back I put through an insurance plan for myself.
- And the thing is, the things they're scared of are not the same things that we're scared of.
- Well, the thing was that I was busy Saturday, tired out Sunday, and feeling apathetic Monday.
- And the thing is, he is not even good looking, rich, or whatever criteria makes guys popular!
- But the thing is that players are remembered for their deeds on the pitch, not in the media.
- But the thing is, students will google while they write whether they're forbidden to or not.
- But the thing is, the rail network is not likely to make any more leaps and bounds if it keeps being shirky and apologetic.
- It was almost 20 years ago, and the thing was, it was introducing a revolutionary product.
- And the thing is, China is trying to make Japan fess up to its brutal crimes of history.
- But the thing is for all the DVDs in the world, what I really want is music - good music.
- Yes, but the thing is, though, he said he wants to plea bargain so he gets out of the death penalty.
- I hope not, but the thing is, I don't necessarily want to become a famous filmmaker.
- You know, the thing was, Australia was really held to ransom there, as far as I'm concerned.
- ‘But the thing was, of course, you got your revenge when it came to your turn,’ he says with relish.
Synonyms
fact of the matter, fact, point, issue, problem

Phrases

be all things to all men (or people)

1Please everyone, typically by regularly altering one's behavior or opinions in order to conform to those of others.
八面玲珑；投人所好
Example sentencesExamples
- Of course, just as SAC cannot be all things to all people, the cultural strategy will not please everyone or meet all needs.
- The government can't be all things to all people.
- The Liberals want to be all things to all people.
- Simply put, like the Toronto event, it is expected to be all things to all people.
- And it may require the reallocation of some of our resources, and we're going to have to understand that we can't be all things to all people.
- It was a superb attempt to be all things to all men that culminated in a result that made everyone happy.
- I believe that you cannot, at all times, try to be all things to all people.
- I'd like to just say that politicians would like to be all things to all people.
- The ABC can never be all things to all people, but it can be the means by which different Australians talk to each other.
- We do have an obligation, but we can't be all things to all people.
1. 1.1Be able to be interpreted or used differently by different people to their own satisfaction.
  能使人人满意；悉随人意
  Example sentencesExamples
  You may not be able to be all things to all people, but when it comes to dairy packaging, the industry is sure trying.
  Unix doesn't have to be all things to all people to be a great system; I don't understand why its fans can't accept that.
  The time is past for newspapers to be all things to all people.
  A local paper cannot be all things to all people but what it can aim for is to have something to interest a range of people from different walks of life.
  ‘You're asking a piece of wood to be all things to all people,’ he says.
  It is trying to be all things to all people, while selling upmarket food.
  ‘Radio 1 tries to be all things to all people in terms of the music that it covers,’ Bryce argues.
  We decided to make the flower show element excellent rather than trying to be all things to all people.
  These products would still use all the cool underlying Mozilla technology, but no longer would they try to be all things to all people, all at once.
  Like all plans, it works for some and not for others - no plan can be all things to all people.

be onto a good thing

informal Have found a job, situation, or lifestyle that is pleasant, profitable, or easy.
〈非正式〉找到合适或待遇高的工作；过着舒适的生活
Example sentencesExamples
- He has plenty to chew on, but that is not necessarily a bad thing: should it all fall into place, he could well be on to a good thing.
- So I feel that not enough is being done to persuade people to give up because the government know that they're on to a good thing with the tobacco trade.
- The duo knew they were on to a good thing when they first previewed at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002 to packed audiences.
- He said: ‘I reckoned that there was enough demand to set up a specialist company, and when my wife also agreed, then I knew we were on to a good thing.’
- He said: ‘If you are on to a good thing you stick with it.’
- Standard Life Investments proved last week it knows when it is on to a good thing by launching a second European private equity fund which will undoubtedly be one of the largest and most significant launches by a Scottish house this year.
- For his part, Mr Cowdery is convinced he is on to a good thing.
- They took advantage of the new government's inexperience at the time and, knowing that it was their first project, knew they were on to a good thing and exploited the situation to the fullest.
- Those masters were on to a good thing, for a while.
- It doesn't take long before people catch on to a good thing.

be hearing (or seeing) things

Imagine that one can hear (or see) something that is not in fact there.
产生幻觉，见神见鬼
Example sentencesExamples
- I convinced myself that I was seeing things and kept walking.
- He blinked and then refocused, convinced he was seeing things.
- At first I thought I was hearing things or maybe it was crows or seagulls.
- At first Melissa had always said Leah was seeing things, now she knew Leah was telling the truth.
- I stared at her and wondered if I was seeing things.
- I was going to tell her she was hearing things and to go back to sleep when I heard the sound of breaking furniture below.
- She thought she was seeing things until another bolt of lightening lit up the room.
- She is hearing things, imagining them, she knows she is.
- Mark shook his head once again, as if he were seeing things.
- Approaching the bridge, we thought we were seeing things!

a close (or near) thing

A narrow avoidance of something unpleasant.
极险的事，死里逃生
Example sentencesExamples
- He managed to put out a hand to the wall just in time, but it was a near thing.
- It was a near thing this time.
- It was a close thing, but he managed to miss the vein by a hair.
- It was a close thing for me too, but I was young, and have a healthy heart and I lasted the whole half-hour of assault.
- It was a near miss as far as I was concerned, a close thing.
- That was a close thing and even more dramatic than the story as told here on Saturday.
- Theodosius also built a second set of walls around Constantinople (it had been a near thing with the Visigoths) and made Christianity the official religion of the Empire.
- The Franks had had a near thing after the Field of Blood, but Tyre and Azaz had somewhat redressed the balance.

do one's own thing

informal Follow one's own interests or inclinations regardless of others.
〈非正式〉做自己爱做的事；按自己的意愿行事
Example sentencesExamples
- The only way forward is for us all to work together; we can't have sport on one side and everyone else doing their own thing.
- However, there are too many individuals doing their own thing.
- People began to think about doing their own thing.
- Though we did walk together as a group, everyone was virtually doing their own thing.
- We were always independent, doing our own thing.
- It's just that everybody's doing their own thing.
- It's just a case of going out there and doing your own thing.
- That is what you have to create at a club, not 15 individuals doing their own thing.
- It's always welcome to find a band that are not following the crowd and really doing their own thing.
- ‘It was that teenage thing of doing your own thing as a student,’ Diana recalls.

do the — thing

informal Engage in the kind of behavior typically associated with someone or something.
〈非正式，主北美〉做…事
a film in which he does the bad-guy thing
一部他在里面饰演坏人的影片。
Example sentencesExamples
- He got the crowd doing the waving arms thing.
- He noticed she was a carrying a book or two and decided to do the gentlemen thing.
- While we're doing the media thing, might as well be time for a roundup.
- He is just doing the no drinking thing to keep me happy.
- Oh I'm definitely gonna do the sneakers thing, we're all doing it.
- I don't do the tests thing very often these days.
- I don't do the whole meeting-the-parents thing.
- We watched a game, had a few beers, did the lads thing, and generally I had a ball.
- Can we do the whole presentations thing tomorrow?
- I resisted the temptation to do the charades thing that indicates it's a book.

do things to

informal Have a powerful emotional effect on.
〈非正式〉对…施加显著影响；使受震撼
it just does things to me when we kiss
我们亲吻时我兴奋不已。
Example sentencesExamples
- Inspiring, amazing, and proving that in an age where film, TV, novels and the internet dominate, a truly magical piece of theatre can still do things to your feelings and emotions that no other media can.
- Unforunately, the bravado of temporary office sometimes does things to people.
- Maybe it's this country that does things to us.
- Apologies to my Portugese and Brazilian readers for confusing your beautiful language with the other one - it was the chocolate you know - it does things to my brain.
- In other words, pop is conceived of as an aesthetic object which is contemplated and ‘enjoyed’ by a transcendent subject, not as something which has effects on a body, which does things to you.
- It's an amazing thing to raise a child - it does things to you.

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.
首先，一则
Why hadn't he arranged to see her at the house? For one thing, it would have been warmer
他当时为什么不安排在屋里见她？首先，屋里会比较暖和。
Example sentencesExamples
- He flags his surprise endings far too far in advance, for one thing.
- Well, for one thing, there's a self-defence issue here which may justify the use of lethal force by the police officer.
- It's far too noisy, for one thing, plus we're all phenomenally busy, a fact that should delight upper management.
- Well, for one thing, writing a shocking story has been, historically, one way to bring yourself to public attention.
- One cannot lament its influence, for one thing because to do so would be useless.
- I think he wants to see how people are raising money in his wife's name, for one thing.
- It's got him onto the health pages of the Telegraph, for one thing.
- Well, for one thing, the cast of characters apparently has spread out all over the country.
- Not that I was inclined to go round: for one thing, I had no idea what to say.
- Class, for one thing, appears to have changed radically while the Queen remains.

have a thing about

informal Have an obsessive interest in or dislike of.
〈非正式〉对…有一种病态（或强烈）的爱好（或厌恶）；对…抱有偏见
she had a thing about men who wore glasses
她特喜欢（或讨厌）戴眼镜的男人。
Example sentencesExamples
- ‘Men have a thing about high heels,’ said sex shop manager Justin Parr.
- He had a thing about redheads and he liked singers.
- And, perhaps as a result, I've always had a thing about not eating too many sweets, although this never seemed to extend to alcohol.
- She's lovely although she has a thing about climbing.
- Macdonald has a thing about beaches; she can't say why, she just likes them.
- Some people have a thing about their thighs, stomach or numerous chins.
- I've always had a thing about travelling light.
- I have a thing about sumptuously comfortable beds.
- And he had a thing about not looking directly at her.
- For a brief period during my childhood I had a thing about boxing.
Synonyms
phobia, fear, horror, terror
penchant for, preference for, taste for, inclination for, partiality for, predilection for, soft spot for, weakness for, fancy for, fondness for, liking for, love for, passion for

have a thing for

informal Have a strong liking for.
I think he has a bit of a thing for you
Example sentencesExamples
- She's the young hotshot of the woman's tennis circuit and she seems to have a thing for Peter.
- She and I have a thing for the movies and never miss the opening night of anything.
- I think he has a bit of a thing for you.
- He's talk, dark and handsome and has a thing for British beauties.
- He was a little miffed at Trevor's comment about him having a thing for Susie.
- Dana had a thing for chocolate - or candy in general.
- He has a thing for annoying me though.
- People will think I really do have a thing for meteorites.
- She apparently had a thing for smart guys.
- When we last left our heroes, Rachel had just found out that Ross has long had a thing for her.
Synonyms
phobia, fear, horror, terror
penchant for, preference for, taste for, inclination for, partiality for, predilection for, soft spot for, weakness for, fancy for, fondness for, liking for, love for, passion for

— is one thing, — is another

Used to indicate that the second item mentioned is much more serious or important than the first, and cannot be compared to it.
…是一回事，…又是另一回事
physical attraction was one thing, love was quite another
外表的吸引是一回事，爱情可就另当别论。

make a (big) thing of (or about)

informal Make (something) seem more important than it actually is.
〈非正式〉把…看做必要，认为…必不可少
Example sentencesExamples
- The news is making a big thing of it because he's gay.
- My mother did not make a big thing of it, but it was impossible to ignore.
- I think they are probably looking for something to make a thing about.
- And, of course, my friends across the aisle have made a big thing about that.
- Should I just let it slide, or make a big thing of it?

of all things

Out of all conceivable possibilities (used to express surprise)
（表示惊讶）偏偏；真没想到，怎么搞的
What had he been thinking about? A kitten, of all things!
他一直在想什么呢？竟然是一只小猫。
Example sentencesExamples
- She was shocked that someone had been as cruel as to shoot the duck and, of all things, with a crossbow.
- They both studied, of all things, Portuguese literature and translation.
- Our only used bookstore has gone, to be replaced by a pawnshop, of all things.
- The bizarre thing about the unsavoury incident was that the irate individual was himself, of all things, a referee.
- The company blamed its dismal performance on, of all things, Valentine's Day falling on a Friday.
- I sat back and watched as the two of them fought each other for a picture, of all things.
- Well the government, of all things, has called for expressions of interest just recently.
- He spent a few years in England in industry making, of all things, vials for medicines.
- I drove, of all things, an Alfa diesel, and it was a glorious experience.
- He went to London University for a degree in, of all things, theology.

(just) one of those things

informal Used to indicate that one wishes to pass over an unfortunate event or experience by regarding it as unavoidable or to be accepted.
〈非正式〉命里注定的事，不可避免的事；必须接受（或承认）的事
Example sentencesExamples
- If I have to move on and the money could be used to help the club relocate then it's one of those things.
- We were in the lead at the time, but it was one of those things.
- ‘It was nobody's fault what happened in Turkey, it was just one of those things,’ added Alan.
- Sometimes I just chalk it down to one of those things and try and move on with my life.
- It is just one of those things you have to accept.
- ‘It's just one of those things,’ said founder member Beatrice Brown.
- ‘What has happened is just one of those things and is not the club's fault but I am still very sad about it,’ said Hamilton.
- If cycling is one way to sort out York's traffic problems, how come the frequent theft of bikes is brushed off as one of those things?
- Unfortunately, is hasn't and it's just one of those things.
- He said: ‘There were no outward physical signs that the tree was rotten and going to come down, it was just one of those things.’

one thing after another

A series of problems or difficulties.
it's one thing after another with this kid
Example sentencesExamples
- "It's been one thing after another with that shed," Cameron said, "We've been trying for ages to see if somebody wants it. There was nothing we could do in the end."
- One thing after another crowded in upon me, demanding attention and pushing further down the list the things that really mattered.
- I had been virtually injury free all season and then in the last few weeks I seem to have suffered one thing after another.
- Our heroes undergo setbacks and minor triumphs, disasters and near-disasters, even scrapes with death - one thing after another.
- He worked hard as a farmer, but one thing after another worked against him and he never progressed very far.
- Now, this year alone, the show has been plagued by one thing after another.
- Every time I try to get my new blog working I hit another problem, it's just one thing after another.
- It was just one thing after another after another, but we never felt like giving up.
- Even as one thing after another goes wrong, he's still a lovable goof who loses his temper but never lets it get the best of him.
- He said: "It's one thing after another at this club at the moment; I feel like I've been let down by the team and I can't understand why."

one thing leads to another

Used to suggest that the exact sequence of events is too obvious to need recounting, the listener or reader being able to guess easily what happened.
事情接踵而来
Example sentencesExamples
- And one thing leads to another and then pretty soon, both people are in this violent dilemma.
- And one thing leads to another and on and on it goes.
- Anyway it's also fun to see how one thing leads to another.
- But one thing leads to another, as smokers, dieters and alcoholics all know only too well.
- Like so many things in life, one thing leads to another.

a thing of the past

A thing that no longer happens or exists.
过去的事情，陈年往事
Example sentencesExamples
- Dressing up for a meeting with your accountant may soon be a thing of the past.
- Actually, in some parts of the world this is becoming a thing of the past.
- But for one group of tots, such light-hearted activity could be a thing of the past.
- The habit of walking children to school is mostly a thing of the past.
- The guide suggests that Britain is now a truly united kingdom with the north-south divide a thing of the past.

a thing or two

informal Used to refer to useful information that can be imparted or learned.
〈非正式〉应该知道的事情；值得了解的情况；知识，经验
Teddy taught me a thing or two about wine
特迪教给我一些关于葡萄酒的知识。
Example sentencesExamples
- Now that's where we could show those other countries a thing or two.
- He was older and had been with a few women older than himself who had taught him a thing or two.
- It is rich in culture and scenery and could teach us Irish a thing or two about how we care for our environment.
- My brother taught me a thing or two, the rest I learnt from magazines and tapes.
- Perhaps the Wiltshire trusts could learn a thing or two from that!
- As he grew up, though, he discovered a thing or two that made him change his mind.
- With adventures like these, you are going to have a great time and learn a thing or two.
- However, having served 12 years in the Royal Navy, Richard knew a thing or two about spit and polish.
- Katy was more than grateful to her mother for teaching her a thing or two about first aid.
- Our children may only be starting out on life's learning curve, but they could teach us a thing or two.

things that go bump in the night

humorous, informal Unexplained and frightening noises at night, regarded as being caused by ghosts.
〈非正式，幽默〉半夜鬼叫声，晚间不可思议的声音
Example sentencesExamples
- ‘Only things that go bump in the night,’ Alexander said.
- He makes great use of silence and subtle sounds to remind us that the only thing scarier to a child than hearing the things that go bump in the night is not hearing them.
- As a youngster I had a dreadful fear of ghost stories and things that go bump in the night.
- But what of the other things that go bump in the night?
- Don't get neurotic about things that go bump in the night!
- You are thinking about things that go bump in the night and monsters under your bed and vampires peering at you through your window.
- Meanwhile, professional ghost-finders are set to launch a three-day festival in York dedicated to the things that go bump in the night.
- I have a fear of things that go bump in the night.
- If you're not afraid of the dark or things that go bump in the night you will at least have the nerve to make it through the audition.
- It was an active search for things that go bump in the night in the castle-filled countrysides of Scotland and Ireland.

Origin

Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Ding. Early senses included ‘meeting’ and ‘matter, concern’ as well as ‘inanimate object’.

单词	thing
释义	Definition of thing in English: thing noun θɪŋθɪŋ 1An object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to. 东西 look at that metal rail thing over there 瞧那儿那个金属栏杆状的东西。 there are lots of things I'd like to buy 有许多我想买的东西。 Example sentencesExamples Margalo looked them up and down for the thing she had required both of them to bring. Quite simply, the thing won't work without the base scanning the skies for missiles. Everyone is opting for the thing that sells the easiest and requires the least amount of work. Didn't I say last night I would go to Croydon to spend a small fortune on things for my living room. The pink thing beside her is her G-string which she took out and decided not to wear back. If this thing goes out again, it'll cost as much to repair it as it will to replace it. All in the name of testing new materials for things like planes and spacecraft. Get an idea of prices by going to lots of shops that carry the kind of thing that interests you. If you look at photos from way back, when you were a kid, the fashions date the thing. Yefu took only a few necessary things with him, including a cup, a mobile phone, and bedding. I put this thing on and looked in the mirror and it was like I had turned into a cartoon. If you had all the money you could wish for, name three things you would purchase. My suitcase contains many things but one thing you can be sure of is that I've probably not got enough pants. He just wasn't into material things, but he did like to drink and get laid. We went out to find some dinner and of course the only thing open was the chippie. I did that thing that lots of blokes do when presented with a thing that has instructions. Helen has the material things many would envy, but she is desperately trying to break free. Lia wished the thing he had given her would just vibrate; a feeling of unease rested in the pit of her stomach. Synonyms object, article, item, artefact, commodity device, gadget, contrivance, instrument, utensil, tool, implement entity, body informal whatsit, what-d'you-call-it, what's-its-name, what's-it, whatchamacallit, thingummy, thingy, thingamabob, thingamajig, oojamaflip, oojah, gizmo British informal doodah, doobry, gubbins North American informal doodad, doohickey, doojigger, dingus Australian/New Zealand informal thingo 1.1things Personal belongings or clothing. （个人的）所有（衣）物 she began to unpack her things 她开始解开自己的行装。 Synonyms belongings, possessions, stuff, property, worldly goods, goods, personal effects, effects, paraphernalia, impedimenta, bits and pieces, bits and bobs luggage, baggage, bags, bags and baggage, chattels, movables, valuables clothes, garments Law goods and chattels informal gear, junk, togs, garms, dunnage, traps British informal clobber South African informal trek vulgar slang shit, crap 1.2with adjective or noun modifier things Equipment, utensils, or other objects used for a particular purpose. 物品，用具，用品 they cleared away the lunch things 他们清理了最后的几件午餐用具。 Synonyms equipment, apparatus, gear, kit, tackle, stuff implements, tools, utensils accoutrements 1.3a thingwith negative Anything (used for emphasis) 用于强调任何东西 she couldn't find a thing to wear 她找不到一件可穿的东西。 Example sentencesExamples He could pick and choose as he pleased and he wouldn't have to worry about a single damn thing. They know exactly what they're doing and in that respect I don't have a thing to worry about. They were absolutely not worried about a thing until I put on a robe and then Stellan screamed the house down. We can't have anything like that, we've never done a thing like this before. I'll let them know what you have planned for us tonight, so don't worry about a thing. She felt as if she could just get lost in his eyes forever and not ever have a thing to worry about. 1.4 Used to express one's disapproval of or contempt for something. 表示不赞成、轻蔑（这类）东西；（此等）烂货 you won't find me smoking those filthy things 你不会发现我抽那类肮脏的东西。 1.5thingswith postpositive adjective All that can be described in the specified way. 特定的事物 his love for all things English 他对所有与英语有关的事物的喜爱。 Example sentencesExamples He seems to have developed a penchant for all things good, wholesome and American. O'Hagan did not always have such seething contempt for all things Caledonian. His fascination with all things Chopper also extends to the world wide web. 1.6 Used euphemistically to refer to a man's penis. 〈婉〉阴茎 2An inanimate material object as distinct from a living sentient being. （无生命的）物 I'm not a thing, not a work of art to be cherished 我不是物品，不是一件供珍藏的艺术品。 2.1with adjective A living creature or plant. 生物；植物 the sea is the primal source of all living things on earth 海洋是地球上所有生物的最初起源地。 Example sentencesExamples The trees protected by this bill are among the oldest, tallest, and largest living things on earth. This consideration must surely tell us that all living things were not made for man. It must take a heartless person to even be able to carry out experiments on any living thing. Now, obviously, the presence of living things on Earth runs counter to this rule. I know that I will continue to be amazed and absorbed by the mystery of living things. Any living thing which brought life and movement to stir the sullen stillness of it all would be silenced. We scooped up margarine tubs full of pond water and saw a host of living things in our little container. Living things search for their own fuel, and at times have to regulate their own temperatures. It sets out to establish an equilibrium in the use of carbon, the material of living things. Fossils are relics of living things that tell us something about the past. DNA is the common thread that links every living thing with a single primeval ancestor. I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on the earth. Lead is toxic to every living thing and adversely affects every system in the body. The creation story in Genesis established an account for the origin of living things. Nothing grew on its land, and no living thing was reared in its sheds and barns. There isn't a living thing which doesn't alter its natural environment in some way. It is our sense of interconnection with all living things that brings us to respect the rights of animals. Clearly all living things need to consume in order to stay alive, and humans are no exception. My family raised me to believe that not only humans but all living beings and natural things deserve respect. Property should only be destroyed if no living thing is going to be hurt. 2.2with adjective Used to express one's feelings of pity, affection, approval, or contempt for a person or animal. 表示不赞成、轻蔑（这类）东西；（此等）烂货 have a nice weekend in the country, you lucky thing! 在乡下过个愉快的周末，你这幸运的家伙！ the lamb was a puny little thing 那羊羔是个瘦弱的小东西。 Synonyms person, soul, creature, wretch informal devil, beggar, bunny, bastard British vulgar slang sod, bugger 3An action, event, thought, or utterance. 行动；活动；事件；想法；话 she said the first thing that came into her head 她说话不假思索。 the only thing I could do well was cook 我惟一能做好的事是做饭。 Example sentencesExamples He said it was very difficult not being able to work and doing the same thing day after day. Yes, he had to go and in going he did the last honourable thing open to him. The frigid old crone who taught us made copulation seem like the most boring thing possible. You should thus try to convince your husband that such a thing is not socially acceptable. This sort of thing happened quite often when Nathaniel was given a shock. I don't enjoy shopping but wandering a mall with Wendy and Mark can be a fun thing. The most important thing management can do is to stay in touch with the people who do the real work in the company. The British Championships are now half way through and so far have been quite a close run thing. Get out of the armchair, do things you enjoy and things you think will make a difference. Blowing the whistle on any illegal or unethical activities is the right thing to do. Born of all the distress of that situation came the one thing that I was truly unprepared for. They are convinced they did the right thing in reporting the activities of the two youths. The only thing enterprises could do was mass produce, regardless of market feedback. The use of any part of any creature for this type of thing is quite unacceptable. There is one girl in my class who constantly says funny things which I wish I could remember later. If there is one thing referee Michael Jones doesn't do, it's play to the crowd. At the awards ceremony, the pair said they would do the same thing again if the situation arose. One minute a team is going great, then a couple of putts go in or stay out and the whole thing switches round the other way. On the way back the worst thing possible that could happen in a car happened. Say what you will, but I believe the majority of people would do the same thing in our situation. Synonyms activity act, action, deed, undertaking, exploit, feat task, job, chore, piece of business thought, notion, idea, concept, conception concern, matter, worry, preoccupation remark, statement, comment, utterance, observation, declaration, pronouncement incident, episode, event, happening, occurrence, eventuality, phenomenon 3.1things Circumstances or matters that are unspecified. 局面；情况；形势 things haven't gone entirely to plan 形势还没有完全按计划发展。 how are things with you? 你情况如何？ Example sentencesExamples Challenge your beliefs about the bad things that might happen if you show your emotions. The other alternative is to sit on the sidelines and wish that things were different. Not for one instant, no matter how tough things got, would I have quit a fight. The good thing about gallows humour is no matter how bad things get you can always find some wag ready to crack a joke. I told Jacques to press this with all his might and not back down, no matter how dire things looked. We worked hard and we fought hard, and I wish that things had turned out a little differently. No matter how bad things get, you must never think that God does not exist. You hear a lot of longtime residents lament that they wish things were the way they used to be. I remember we complained to one another at the time and thought how we wish things could change. Even now, two years on, Smith struggles to describe exactly why things went so wrong. Many people no longer believe in our capacity to control events and change things for the better. There are times when I wish things were different, if only because the people deserve better. We can try and come up with ways of making things better, no matter how tough that may be. The kiss of love is the kiss of life and no matter how badly things have been going, it's the kiss that heals. It seems like the lesson here is to let things slide, no matter how painful things get. The child also perceives that things are going well living with his grandmother. But it's hard to tell this close to the event exactly how things are going to change. That is to say, he used it as an example of how bad things can get if we don't act soon enough. I now realise that all is not lost, no matter how bad things get, all is never lost. It was doubtful, she knew, but nevertheless, she wished things had not ended the way they did. Synonyms matters, affairs, circumstances, conditions, relations state of affairs, situation, life 3.2 An abstract entity, quality, or concept. （抽象的）事情；概念 mourning and depression are not the same thing 哀伤与沮丧是两码事。 they had one thing in common—they were men of action 他们有一个共同的特征——都是实干家。 Example sentencesExamples If there's one thing life so far has taught me, it's that you can't hide from reality. Accept there's no such thing as the perfect partner but you can get pretty close. This is not the sort of thing where we require the law to protect us from ourselves. As I walked through the cold steel passageways, every room I entered had the same thing in common. The only thing we had in common was that we were both appalled and shamed by the Waynes of this world. In any case, if there is one thing Italians do not naturally embrace it is change. The question of his virtue is of course quite another thing altogether. We could easily end up in a situation where the only thing left is, in a sense, the shadow of a monarchy. We realised how our hobby was the thing we had in common and the most important part of that was sharing. Yes, quality is the only thing that matters when we are talking about export education. It is not at all necessary, though, that such a concept or such a thing exist. He admits he has always tended to obsess over things, these obsessions being mostly musical. What they fail to consider is the harsh reality that there is no such thing as a new morality. The one thing patients want out of the inquiry is for lessons to be learned. The limits of our knowledge is one of the things that fascinates me most. The only thing they have in common are the double rather than single quotation marks around them. To pretend otherwise is not only an insult to those efforts but it also implies there is no such thing as social change. There seemed to be no such thing as third time lucky for the Sliding Rock mine. A concept that has too many clothes may in the end be the same thing as a concept that has none. Of course, this is the type of thing that the media would be all over if it were a Republican. Synonyms characteristic, quality, attribute, property, trait, feature, point, aspect, facet, element fact, piece of information, point, detail, particular, factor 3.3 An example or type of something. 实例；类型 the game is the latest thing in family fun 这个游戏是家庭娱乐中最新型的一种。 Example sentencesExamples The young girl appeared oblivious to what he was up to; Martin guessed she did this sort of thing quite often. The bottom line is society hasn't opened up much to accept this kind of thing. I've never been a fan of that sort of thing but with fashion being what it is these days I let her have it done. They are the kind of thing that lead us to react in ways which are far graver than the damage they do. There was a time when really this thing was not taken as seriously as it should have been. 3.4informal with adjective or noun modifier A situation or activity of a specified type or quality. 〈非正式〉特定的情况（或活动） your being here is just a friendship thing, OK? 你在这儿恰恰就是一个友好的举动，明白吗？ Example sentencesExamples I'm doing the premiere party thing tonight, so will have something to say about it tomorrow. But there was almost a reluctance to do sculpture, because it was such a family thing. She was afraid because this modeling thing was a new situation so removed from her reality. You can see the genuine affection there and it's not a showbiz couple thing. Subman, who has a few years on me, went on and did the family thing, put on a few kilos, and gave up surfing. The older son thing requires its own space, so the telling will be separate, if it happens. In the early days, punk was a Northern thing, and more specifically, a Manchester thing. It has always been a family thing—we used to drive out in a bike and side-car when our two sons were small. Synonyms matters, affairs, circumstances, conditions, relations 3.5informal A romantic or sexual relationship. Phil and Lisa had been having a thing Example sentencesExamples Asked about the rumoured relationship in an interview, she insisted: We've never had a thing. Trevor had a thing with her sister and got her pregnant, so there's a big backstory there. Rob's been having problems with his girlfriend and it's being said that the problem is because Rob and Kayleigh might be having a thing. Danny loves Taylor, and Kylie has a thing with Sam. He and Jack finally have a thing going on and then he dies. OMG I didn't know he and Kirsten had a thing. Julian had a thing with Shelby and Candace had a thing with an anonymous stranger. Husband had a thing with the babysitter, who then moves in with husband and child. 3.6informal An established or genuine phenomenon or practice (typically used in expressions registering surprise or incredulity) according to media reports, sleep texting is now a thing among serious smartphone addicts he looks like he's wearing boxers underneath his trunks (is that a thing?) Example sentencesExamples Miller's sporting a string of very fashionable Fair Isle sweaters, so is that a thing now? Is it a thing now to throw Barbie dolls on stage during a concert? He cries some more, since that is a thing this season. Here are the 10 Dos and Don'ts of Facebook-stalking your crush, if that's still a thing now. Winter white may work in November, but winter egg-shell blue is definitely not a thing. I'm not sure if anyone was trading butter for dessert, but bartering at restaurants is a thing. Add some pizazz to your pregnancy by body-painting your baby bump (seriously, this is a thing). Kind of sad that having a glucose-measuring device for your kids is a thing now, worthy of a feature. Georgio, I can tell how old you are, because the kids today probably don't know that candy cigarettes were ever a thing. If Heather's reading, we have a feeling her goal was hipster biker chic, but please know that is not now and will never be a thing. 4the thinginformal What is needed or required. 〈非正式〉需要的东西 you need a tonic—and here's just the thing 你得进补——这正是你要的东西。 4.1 What is socially acceptable or fashionable. 最适合（或最时髦）的东西 it wouldn't be quite the thing to go to a royal garden party in wellies 穿着橡胶筒靴去参加皇家花园晚会是很不合时宜的。 Example sentencesExamples Around the time of Michael and A Life Less Ordinary, angels were quite the thing. Apparently it's quite the thing to drop out of society for months and take to the rivers and byways. At the newcomer level, sketch shows seem quite the thing. Synonyms fashionable, in fashion, in vogue, popular, all the rage French le dernier cri informal trendy, cool, in, the in thing, big, with it, hip, happening, now 5one's thinginformal One's special interest or inclination. 〈非正式〉爱好，关切的事 reading isn't my thing 阅读不是我的爱好。 Synonyms what one likes, what interests one informal one's cup of tea, one's bag, what turns one on, what floats one's boat 6the thinginformal Used to introduce or emphasize an important point. the thing is, I am going to sell this house 重要的是我打算卖掉这房子。 here's the thing: this is a story, not a piece of hard news that's the thing about style—no two people are completely alike Example sentencesExamples And the thing is, China is trying to make Japan fess up to its brutal crimes of history. ‘But the thing was, of course, you got your revenge when it came to your turn,’ he says with relish. But the thing is, students will google while they write whether they're forbidden to or not. But the thing is, the rail network is not likely to make any more leaps and bounds if it keeps being shirky and apologetic. It was almost 20 years ago, and the thing was, it was introducing a revolutionary product. And the thing is, just two days back I put through an insurance plan for myself. I hope not, but the thing is, I don't necessarily want to become a famous filmmaker. I know I've said that I like winter, and cold weather, but the thing is, I like it in winter! But the thing is, a website is not a therapy session, and I lost a little discipline there for a bit. But the thing is that players are remembered for their deeds on the pitch, not in the media. But the thing is for all the DVDs in the world, what I really want is music - good music. Yes, but the thing is that we have got to start preventing some of these diseases. But the thing is, Prof Kaufmann has been through the old reports again recently. Yes, but the thing is, though, he said he wants to plea bargain so he gets out of the death penalty. You know, the thing was, Australia was really held to ransom there, as far as I'm concerned. As far as the Rove story, the thing is that Washington journalists are actually involved. And the thing is, I'm not sure that the broadcasters ever said what sin the question actually referred to. And the thing is, the things they're scared of are not the same things that we're scared of. Well, the thing was that I was busy Saturday, tired out Sunday, and feeling apathetic Monday. And the thing is, he is not even good looking, rich, or whatever criteria makes guys popular! Synonyms fact of the matter, fact, point, issue, problem Phrases be all things to all men (or people) 1Please 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 Example sentencesExamples We do have an obligation, but we can't be all things to all people. I believe that you cannot, at all times, try to be all things to all people. And it may require the reallocation of some of our resources, and we're going to have to understand that we can't be all things to all people. The ABC can never be all things to all people, but it can be the means by which different Australians talk to each other. Of course, just as SAC cannot be all things to all people, the cultural strategy will not please everyone or meet all needs. The Liberals want to be all things to all people. The government can't be all things to all people. Simply put, like the Toronto event, it is expected to be all things to all people. I'd like to just say that politicians would like to be all things to all people. It was a superb attempt to be all things to all men that culminated in a result that made everyone happy. 1.1Be able to be interpreted or used differently by different people. 能使人人满意；悉随人意 multimedia is all things to all men Example sentencesExamples The time is past for newspapers to be all things to all people. You may not be able to be all things to all people, but when it comes to dairy packaging, the industry is sure trying. A local paper cannot be all things to all people but what it can aim for is to have something to interest a range of people from different walks of life. ‘You're asking a piece of wood to be all things to all people,’ he says. These products would still use all the cool underlying Mozilla technology, but no longer would they try to be all things to all people, all at once. We decided to make the flower show element excellent rather than trying to be all things to all people. ‘Radio 1 tries to be all things to all people in terms of the music that it covers,’ Bryce argues. Unix doesn't have to be all things to all people to be a great system; I don't understand why its fans can't accept that. Like all plans, it works for some and not for others - no plan can be all things to all people. It is trying to be all things to all people, while selling upmarket food. be on to a good thing informal Have found a job or other situation that is pleasant, profitable, or easy. 〈非正式〉找到合适或待遇高的工作；过着舒适的生活 many directors who take dividends in lieu of salary think they are on to a good thing Example sentencesExamples He said: ‘If you are on to a good thing you stick with it.’ For his part, Mr Cowdery is convinced he is on to a good thing. Those masters were on to a good thing, for a while. They took advantage of the new government's inexperience at the time and, knowing that it was their first project, knew they were on to a good thing and exploited the situation to the fullest. It doesn't take long before people catch on to a good thing. He said: ‘I reckoned that there was enough demand to set up a specialist company, and when my wife also agreed, then I knew we were on to a good thing.’ Standard Life Investments proved last week it knows when it is on to a good thing by launching a second European private equity fund which will undoubtedly be one of the largest and most significant launches by a Scottish house this year. So I feel that not enough is being done to persuade people to give up because the government know that they're on to a good thing with the tobacco trade. He has plenty to chew on, but that is not necessarily a bad thing: should it all fall into place, he could well be on to a good thing. The duo knew they were on to a good thing when they first previewed at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002 to packed audiences. be hearing (or seeing) things Imagine that one can hear (or see) something that is not in fact there. 产生幻觉，见神见鬼 the first time I spotted a puffin I thought I was seeing things Example sentencesExamples He blinked and then refocused, convinced he was seeing things. I convinced myself that I was seeing things and kept walking. At first I thought I was hearing things or maybe it was crows or seagulls. Approaching the bridge, we thought we were seeing things! Mark shook his head once again, as if he were seeing things. I was going to tell her she was hearing things and to go back to sleep when I heard the sound of breaking furniture below. At first Melissa had always said Leah was seeing things, now she knew Leah was telling the truth. She thought she was seeing things until another bolt of lightening lit up the room. I stared at her and wondered if I was seeing things. She is hearing things, imagining them, she knows she is. a close (or near) thing A narrow avoidance of something unpleasant. 极险的事，死里逃生 we got him out, but it was a close thing Example sentencesExamples Theodosius also built a second set of walls around Constantinople (it had been a near thing with the Visigoths) and made Christianity the official religion of the Empire. The Franks had had a near thing after the Field of Blood, but Tyre and Azaz had somewhat redressed the balance. He managed to put out a hand to the wall just in time, but it was a near thing. It was a near miss as far as I was concerned, a close thing. It was a close thing, but he managed to miss the vein by a hair. It was a close thing for me too, but I was young, and have a healthy heart and I lasted the whole half-hour of assault. That was a close thing and even more dramatic than the story as told here on Saturday. It was a near thing this time. do one's own thing informal Follow one's own interests or inclinations regardless of others. 〈非正式〉做自己爱做的事；按自己的意愿行事 they don't seem to be a couple, they just seem to be two people who do their own thing Example sentencesExamples However, there are too many individuals doing their own thing. It's just that everybody's doing their own thing. The only way forward is for us all to work together; we can't have sport on one side and everyone else doing their own thing. ‘It was that teenage thing of doing your own thing as a student,’ Diana recalls. That is what you have to create at a club, not 15 individuals doing their own thing. It's just a case of going out there and doing your own thing. Though we did walk together as a group, everyone was virtually doing their own thing. It's always welcome to find a band that are not following the crowd and really doing their own thing. We were always independent, doing our own thing. People began to think about doing their own thing. do the — thing informal Engage in the kind of behaviour typically associated with someone or something. 〈非正式，主北美〉做…事 a film in which he does the bad-guy thing 一部他在里面饰演坏人的影片。 Example sentencesExamples He got the crowd doing the waving arms thing. While we're doing the media thing, might as well be time for a roundup. Oh I'm definitely gonna do the sneakers thing, we're all doing it. Can we do the whole presentations thing tomorrow? He is just doing the no drinking thing to keep me happy. We watched a game, had a few beers, did the lads thing, and generally I had a ball. I resisted the temptation to do the charades thing that indicates it's a book. He noticed she was a carrying a book or two and decided to do the gentlemen thing. I don't do the tests thing very often these days. I don't do the whole meeting-the-parents thing. do things to informal Have a powerful emotional effect on. 〈非正式〉对…施加显著影响；使受震撼 it just does things to me when we kiss 我们亲吻时我兴奋不已。 Example sentencesExamples Apologies to my Portugese and Brazilian readers for confusing your beautiful language with the other one - it was the chocolate you know - it does things to my brain. It's an amazing thing to raise a child - it does things to you. Unforunately, the bravado of temporary office sometimes does things to people. Inspiring, amazing, and proving that in an age where film, TV, novels and the internet dominate, a truly magical piece of theatre can still do things to your feelings and emotions that no other media can. In other words, pop is conceived of as an aesthetic object which is contemplated and ‘enjoyed’ by a transcendent subject, not as something which has effects on a body, which does things to you. Maybe it's this country that does things to us. 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. 首先，一则 Why hadn't he arranged to see her at the house? For one thing, it would have been warmer 他当时为什么不安排在屋里见她？首先，屋里会比较暖和。 Example sentencesExamples It's got him onto the health pages of the Telegraph, for one thing. Well, for one thing, there's a self-defence issue here which may justify the use of lethal force by the police officer. He flags his surprise endings far too far in advance, for one thing. One cannot lament its influence, for one thing because to do so would be useless. Not that I was inclined to go round: for one thing, I had no idea what to say. Well, for one thing, the cast of characters apparently has spread out all over the country. Well, for one thing, writing a shocking story has been, historically, one way to bring yourself to public attention. I think he wants to see how people are raising money in his wife's name, for one thing. It's far too noisy, for one thing, plus we're all phenomenally busy, a fact that should delight upper management. Class, for one thing, appears to have changed radically while the Queen remains. have a thing about informal Have a strong liking for or dislike of. 〈非正式〉对…有一种病态（或强烈）的爱好（或厌恶）；对…抱有偏见 she had a thing about men who wore glasses 她特喜欢（或讨厌）戴眼镜的男人。 I've always had a thing about mirrors—I can't have one near my bed Example sentencesExamples Macdonald has a thing about beaches; she can't say why, she just likes them. And he had a thing about not looking directly at her. Some people have a thing about their thighs, stomach or numerous chins. He had a thing about redheads and he liked singers. For a brief period during my childhood I had a thing about boxing. ‘Men have a thing about high heels,’ said sex shop manager Justin Parr. I have a thing about sumptuously comfortable beds. She's lovely although she has a thing about climbing. I've always had a thing about travelling light. And, perhaps as a result, I've always had a thing about not eating too many sweets, although this never seemed to extend to alcohol. Synonyms phobia, fear, horror, terror penchant for, preference for, taste for, inclination for, partiality for, predilection for, soft spot for, weakness for, fancy for, fondness for, liking for, love for, passion for have a thing for informal Have a strong liking for. I think he has a bit of a thing for you Example sentencesExamples She's the young hotshot of the woman's tennis circuit and she seems to have a thing for Peter. Dana had a thing for chocolate - or candy in general. He was a little miffed at Trevor's comment about him having a thing for Susie. I think he has a bit of a thing for you. He has a thing for annoying me though. When we last left our heroes, Rachel had just found out that Ross has long had a thing for her. She and I have a thing for the movies and never miss the opening night of anything. People will think I really do have a thing for meteorites. He's talk, dark and handsome and has a thing for British beauties. She apparently had a thing for smart guys. Synonyms phobia, fear, horror, terror penchant for, preference for, taste for, inclination for, partiality for, predilection for, soft spot for, weakness for, fancy for, fondness for, liking for, love for, passion for — 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. …是一回事，…又是另一回事 physical attraction was one thing, love was quite another 外表的吸引是一回事，爱情可就另当别论。 make a (big) thing of (or about) informal Make (something) seem more important than it actually is. 〈非正式〉把…看做必要，认为…必不可少 Meadows made a big thing of paying the bill Example sentencesExamples Should I just let it slide, or make a big thing of it? And, of course, my friends across the aisle have made a big thing about that. The news is making a big thing of it because he's gay. I think they are probably looking for something to make a thing about. My mother did not make a big thing of it, but it was impossible to ignore. of all things Out of all conceivable possibilities (used to express surprise) （表示惊讶）偏偏；真没想到，怎么搞的 What had he been thinking about? A kitten, of all things! 他一直在想什么呢？竟然是一只小猫。 Example sentencesExamples I drove, of all things, an Alfa diesel, and it was a glorious experience. They both studied, of all things, Portuguese literature and translation. I sat back and watched as the two of them fought each other for a picture, of all things. The company blamed its dismal performance on, of all things, Valentine's Day falling on a Friday. Well the government, of all things, has called for expressions of interest just recently. Our only used bookstore has gone, to be replaced by a pawnshop, of all things. He spent a few years in England in industry making, of all things, vials for medicines. The bizarre thing about the unsavoury incident was that the irate individual was himself, of all things, a referee. She was shocked that someone had been as cruel as to shoot the duck and, of all things, with a crossbow. He went to London University for a degree in, of all things, theology. (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. 〈非正式〉命里注定的事，不可避免的事；必须接受（或承认）的事 I didn't manage to go on the tour of Australia, but that was just one of those things Example sentencesExamples Sometimes I just chalk it down to one of those things and try and move on with my life. We were in the lead at the time, but it was one of those things. It is just one of those things you have to accept. ‘It's just one of those things,’ said founder member Beatrice Brown. If I have to move on and the money could be used to help the club relocate then it's one of those things. Unfortunately, is hasn't and it's just one of those things. He said: ‘There were no outward physical signs that the tree was rotten and going to come down, it was just one of those things.’ ‘It was nobody's fault what happened in Turkey, it was just one of those things,’ added Alan. If cycling is one way to sort out York's traffic problems, how come the frequent theft of bikes is brushed off as one of those things? ‘What has happened is just one of those things and is not the club's fault but I am still very sad about it,’ said Hamilton. one thing after another A series of problems or difficulties. it's one thing after another with this kid Example sentencesExamples He said: "It's one thing after another at this club at the moment; I feel like I've been let down by the team and I can't understand why." Now, this year alone, the show has been plagued by one thing after another. Even as one thing after another goes wrong, he's still a lovable goof who loses his temper but never lets it get the best of him. One thing after another crowded in upon me, demanding attention and pushing further down the list the things that really mattered. I had been virtually injury free all season and then in the last few weeks I seem to have suffered one thing after another. Every time I try to get my new blog working I hit another problem, it's just one thing after another. He worked hard as a farmer, but one thing after another worked against him and he never progressed very far. Our heroes undergo setbacks and minor triumphs, disasters and near-disasters, even scrapes with death - one thing after another. "It's been one thing after another with that shed," Cameron said, "We've been trying for ages to see if somebody wants it. There was nothing we could do in the end." It was just one thing after another after another, but we never felt like giving up. one thing leads to another Used to suggest that the exact sequence of events is too obvious to need recounting. 事情接踵而来 he offered me a lift home one night and one thing led to another Example sentencesExamples But one thing leads to another, as smokers, dieters and alcoholics all know only too well. And one thing leads to another and on and on it goes. Anyway it's also fun to see how one thing leads to another. And one thing leads to another and then pretty soon, both people are in this violent dilemma. Like so many things in life, one thing leads to another. there is only one thing for it There is only one possible course of action. 只有一条出路 there was only one thing for it—she would have to open the parcel Example sentencesExamples There was only one thing for it: a complete personality transplant. The dog-loving double act decided there was only one thing for it. Following acupuncture, hypnotherapy and support groups, there's only one thing for it: therapy. And I definitely didn't want my Mom asking him anymore questions, so there was only one thing for it. There's only one thing for it if you're a student. There was only one thing for it: throw them out of the window. There is only one thing for it: I will fast till tea time, and do sit-ups on the hour. There's only one thing for it: I'll have to buy it another. If there's water blocking your way there's only one thing for it: you've got to swim. There's only one thing for it, thought the messenger. (now) there's a thing informal Used as an expression of surprise. 〈非正式〉竟然这样，竟至如此 Example sentencesExamples Now, there's a thing: ‘a persistent irritating critic; a nuisance.’ ‘Well,’ he murmured instead, gazing down at Brandark's relaxed face and listening to his even, sleeping breath, ‘now there's a thing!’ In my defence, I see the beautiful countryside every day, I am spoilt with green hills but real shops, now there's a thing I rarely get to see in this paradise. ‘Well, there's a thing,’ she said to no one in particular. Now there's a thing I'd not thought myself likely to be missing! Now there's a thing: nice to see that no matter what happens, politicians still stay the same. a thing of the past A thing that no longer happens or exists. 过去的事情，陈年往事 house-price booms were seen as a thing of the past Example sentencesExamples Dressing up for a meeting with your accountant may soon be a thing of the past. But for one group of tots, such light-hearted activity could be a thing of the past. Actually, in some parts of the world this is becoming a thing of the past. The habit of walking children to school is mostly a thing of the past. The guide suggests that Britain is now a truly united kingdom with the north-south divide a thing of the past. a thing or two informal Used to refer to useful information that can be imparted or learned. 〈非正式〉应该知道的事情；值得了解的情况；知识，经验 Teddy taught me a thing or two about wine 特迪教给我一些关于葡萄酒的知识。 Example sentencesExamples He was older and had been with a few women older than himself who had taught him a thing or two. It is rich in culture and scenery and could teach us Irish a thing or two about how we care for our environment. As he grew up, though, he discovered a thing or two that made him change his mind. Now that's where we could show those other countries a thing or two. Our children may only be starting out on life's learning curve, but they could teach us a thing or two. Katy was more than grateful to her mother for teaching her a thing or two about first aid. Perhaps the Wiltshire trusts could learn a thing or two from that! My brother taught me a thing or two, the rest I learnt from magazines and tapes. With adventures like these, you are going to have a great time and learn a thing or two. However, having served 12 years in the Royal Navy, Richard knew a thing or two about spit and polish. things that go bump in the night humorous, informal Unexplained and frightening noises at night, regarded as being caused by ghosts. 〈非正式，幽默〉半夜鬼叫声，晚间不可思议的声音 the fear of long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night Example sentencesExamples ‘Only things that go bump in the night,’ Alexander said. You are thinking about things that go bump in the night and monsters under your bed and vampires peering at you through your window. I have a fear of things that go bump in the night. But what of the other things that go bump in the night? As a youngster I had a dreadful fear of ghost stories and things that go bump in the night. Meanwhile, professional ghost-finders are set to launch a three-day festival in York dedicated to the things that go bump in the night. If you're not afraid of the dark or things that go bump in the night you will at least have the nerve to make it through the audition. He makes great use of silence and subtle sounds to remind us that the only thing scarier to a child than hearing the things that go bump in the night is not hearing them. It was an active search for things that go bump in the night in the castle-filled countrysides of Scotland and Ireland. Don't get neurotic about things that go bump in the night! Origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Ding. Early senses included 'meeting' and 'matter, concern' as well as 'inanimate object'. Just about anything can be called a thing, but in Old English it first meant ‘a meeting, an assembly’ or ‘a court, a council’. The word developed through ‘a matter brought before a court’ and ‘a concern, an affair’ to its more general modern senses. To be all things to all men can mean either ‘to attempt to please everyone’ or ‘to be able to be used differently by different people’. The expression probably goes back to a biblical verse in the First Epistle to the Corinthians: ‘I am made all things to all men.’ Odd sounds at night can be alarming, but if you are frightened you could recite ‘The Cornish or West Country Litany’, a traditional prayer which runs: ‘From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggety beasties / And things that go bump in the night, / Good Lord, deliver us!’ This has given us the expression things that go bump in the night for ghosts and supernatural beings. After a certain age everyone can be struck by the gloomy thought that things ain't what they used to be. The phrase originated as the title of a song by Ted Persons in 1941. The idiom do one's (own) thing is recorded from the mid 19th century, but it did not become widespread until the 1960s during the hippie culture; have a thing with (somebody) dates from this same decade. Rhymes Beijing, bing, bring, Chungking, cling, ding, dingaling, fling, I Ching, king, Kunming, ling, Ming, Nanjing, Peking, ping, ring, sing, Singh, sling, spring, sting, string, swing, Synge, ting, wing, wring, Xining, zing noun.1 phr. Definition of thing in US English: thing nounTHiNGθɪŋ 1An object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to. 东西 look at that metal rail thing over there 瞧那儿那个金属栏杆状的东西。 there are lots of things I'd like to buy 有许多我想买的东西。 she was wearing this pink thing 她当时穿着这件粉红的东西。 Example sentencesExamples We went out to find some dinner and of course the only thing open was the chippie. Quite simply, the thing won't work without the base scanning the skies for missiles. Yefu took only a few necessary things with him, including a cup, a mobile phone, and bedding. Helen has the material things many would envy, but she is desperately trying to break free. All in the name of testing new materials for things like planes and spacecraft. Lia wished the thing he had given her would just vibrate; a feeling of unease rested in the pit of her stomach. I put this thing on and looked in the mirror and it was like I had turned into a cartoon. Get an idea of prices by going to lots of shops that carry the kind of thing that interests you. He just wasn't into material things, but he did like to drink and get laid. Margalo looked them up and down for the thing she had required both of them to bring. If this thing goes out again, it'll cost as much to repair it as it will to replace it. The pink thing beside her is her G-string which she took out and decided not to wear back. If you had all the money you could wish for, name three things you would purchase. If you look at photos from way back, when you were a kid, the fashions date the thing. Everyone is opting for the thing that sells the easiest and requires the least amount of work. Didn't I say last night I would go to Croydon to spend a small fortune on things for my living room. My suitcase contains many things but one thing you can be sure of is that I've probably not got enough pants. I did that thing that lots of blokes do when presented with a thing that has instructions. Synonyms object, article, item, artefact, commodity 1.1things Personal belongings or clothing. （个人的）所有（衣）物 she began to unpack her things 她开始解开自己的行装。 Synonyms belongings, possessions, stuff, property, worldly goods, goods, personal effects, effects, paraphernalia, impedimenta, bits and pieces, bits and bobs 1.2thingswith modifier Objects, equipment, or utensils used for a particular purpose. 物品，用具，用品 they cleared away the last few lunch things 他们清理了最后的几件午餐用具。 Synonyms equipment, apparatus, gear, kit, tackle, stuff 1.3a thingwith negative Anything (used for emphasis) 用于强调任何东西 she couldn't find a thing to wear 她找不到一件可穿的东西。 Example sentencesExamples He could pick and choose as he pleased and he wouldn't have to worry about a single damn thing. We can't have anything like that, we've never done a thing like this before. She felt as if she could just get lost in his eyes forever and not ever have a thing to worry about. They were absolutely not worried about a thing until I put on a robe and then Stellan screamed the house down. I'll let them know what you have planned for us tonight, so don't worry about a thing. They know exactly what they're doing and in that respect I don't have a thing to worry about. 1.4 Used to express one's disapproval of or contempt for something. 表示不赞成、轻蔑（这类）东西；（此等）烂货 you won't find me smoking those filthy things 你不会发现我抽那类肮脏的东西。 1.5thingswith postpositive adjective All that can be described in the specified way. 特定的事物 his love for all things Italian 他对所有与英语有关的事物的喜爱。 Example sentencesExamples He seems to have developed a penchant for all things good, wholesome and American. O'Hagan did not always have such seething contempt for all things Caledonian. His fascination with all things Chopper also extends to the world wide web. 1.6 Used euphemistically to refer to a man's penis. 〈婉〉阴茎 2An inanimate material object as distinct from a living sentient being. （无生命的）物 I'm not a thing, not a work of art to be cherished 我不是物品，不是一件供珍藏的艺术品。 2.1with adjective A living creature or plant. 生物；植物 the sea is the primal source of all living things on earth 海洋是地球上所有生物的最初起源地。 Example sentencesExamples Now, obviously, the presence of living things on Earth runs counter to this rule. It is our sense of interconnection with all living things that brings us to respect the rights of animals. Lead is toxic to every living thing and adversely affects every system in the body. There isn't a living thing which doesn't alter its natural environment in some way. The trees protected by this bill are among the oldest, tallest, and largest living things on earth. Living things search for their own fuel, and at times have to regulate their own temperatures. Any living thing which brought life and movement to stir the sullen stillness of it all would be silenced. My family raised me to believe that not only humans but all living beings and natural things deserve respect. Clearly all living things need to consume in order to stay alive, and humans are no exception. I know that I will continue to be amazed and absorbed by the mystery of living things. Fossils are relics of living things that tell us something about the past. This consideration must surely tell us that all living things were not made for man. I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on the earth. DNA is the common thread that links every living thing with a single primeval ancestor. Property should only be destroyed if no living thing is going to be hurt. We scooped up margarine tubs full of pond water and saw a host of living things in our little container. It sets out to establish an equilibrium in the use of carbon, the material of living things. The creation story in Genesis established an account for the origin of living things. Nothing grew on its land, and no living thing was reared in its sheds and barns. It must take a heartless person to even be able to carry out experiments on any living thing. 2.2with adjective Used to express and give a reason for one's pity, affection, approval, or contempt for a person or animal. （带有怜悯、爱、赞成或轻蔑等情感）人；家伙，东西 have a nice weekend in the country, you lucky thing! 在乡下过个愉快的周末，你这幸运的家伙！ the lamb was a puny little thing 那羊羔是个瘦弱的小东西。 Synonyms person, soul, creature, wretch 3An action, activity, event, thought, or utterance. 行动；活动；事件；想法；话 she said the first thing that came into her head 她说话不假思索。 the only thing I could do well was cook 我惟一能做好的事是做饭。 Example sentencesExamples The only thing enterprises could do was mass produce, regardless of market feedback. Say what you will, but I believe the majority of people would do the same thing in our situation. Blowing the whistle on any illegal or unethical activities is the right thing to do. He said it was very difficult not being able to work and doing the same thing day after day. On the way back the worst thing possible that could happen in a car happened. Born of all the distress of that situation came the one thing that I was truly unprepared for. The frigid old crone who taught us made copulation seem like the most boring thing possible. They are convinced they did the right thing in reporting the activities of the two youths. One minute a team is going great, then a couple of putts go in or stay out and the whole thing switches round the other way. I don't enjoy shopping but wandering a mall with Wendy and Mark can be a fun thing. There is one girl in my class who constantly says funny things which I wish I could remember later. If there is one thing referee Michael Jones doesn't do, it's play to the crowd. This sort of thing happened quite often when Nathaniel was given a shock. The British Championships are now half way through and so far have been quite a close run thing. You should thus try to convince your husband that such a thing is not socially acceptable. The most important thing management can do is to stay in touch with the people who do the real work in the company. The use of any part of any creature for this type of thing is quite unacceptable. Get out of the armchair, do things you enjoy and things you think will make a difference. Yes, he had to go and in going he did the last honourable thing open to him. At the awards ceremony, the pair said they would do the same thing again if the situation arose. Synonyms activity thought, notion, idea, concept, conception remark, statement, comment, utterance, observation, declaration, pronouncement incident, episode, event, happening, occurrence, eventuality, phenomenon 3.1things Circumstances, conditions, or matters that are unspecified. 局面；情况；形势 things haven't gone entirely according to plan 形势还没有完全按计划发展。 how are things with you? 你情况如何？ Example sentencesExamples It seems like the lesson here is to let things slide, no matter how painful things get. You hear a lot of longtime residents lament that they wish things were the way they used to be. I told Jacques to press this with all his might and not back down, no matter how dire things looked. We can try and come up with ways of making things better, no matter how tough that may be. We worked hard and we fought hard, and I wish that things had turned out a little differently. Challenge your beliefs about the bad things that might happen if you show your emotions. I now realise that all is not lost, no matter how bad things get, all is never lost. The other alternative is to sit on the sidelines and wish that things were different. Even now, two years on, Smith struggles to describe exactly why things went so wrong. It was doubtful, she knew, but nevertheless, she wished things had not ended the way they did. I remember we complained to one another at the time and thought how we wish things could change. Not for one instant, no matter how tough things got, would I have quit a fight. The kiss of love is the kiss of life and no matter how badly things have been going, it's the kiss that heals. Many people no longer believe in our capacity to control events and change things for the better. But it's hard to tell this close to the event exactly how things are going to change. That is to say, he used it as an example of how bad things can get if we don't act soon enough. There are times when I wish things were different, if only because the people deserve better. The good thing about gallows humour is no matter how bad things get you can always find some wag ready to crack a joke. No matter how bad things get, you must never think that God does not exist. The child also perceives that things are going well living with his grandmother. Synonyms matters, affairs, circumstances, conditions, relations 3.2 An abstract entity, quality, or concept. （抽象的）事情；概念 mourning and depression are not the same thing 哀伤与沮丧是两码事。 they had one thing in common—they were men of action 他们有一个共同的特征——都是实干家。 Example sentencesExamples The limits of our knowledge is one of the things that fascinates me most. If there's one thing life so far has taught me, it's that you can't hide from reality. The only thing we had in common was that we were both appalled and shamed by the Waynes of this world. We realised how our hobby was the thing we had in common and the most important part of that was sharing. The one thing patients want out of the inquiry is for lessons to be learned. The only thing they have in common are the double rather than single quotation marks around them. To pretend otherwise is not only an insult to those efforts but it also implies there is no such thing as social change. Of course, this is the type of thing that the media would be all over if it were a Republican. Accept there's no such thing as the perfect partner but you can get pretty close. Yes, quality is the only thing that matters when we are talking about export education. In any case, if there is one thing Italians do not naturally embrace it is change. What they fail to consider is the harsh reality that there is no such thing as a new morality. As I walked through the cold steel passageways, every room I entered had the same thing in common. It is not at all necessary, though, that such a concept or such a thing exist. A concept that has too many clothes may in the end be the same thing as a concept that has none. This is not the sort of thing where we require the law to protect us from ourselves. We could easily end up in a situation where the only thing left is, in a sense, the shadow of a monarchy. There seemed to be no such thing as third time lucky for the Sliding Rock mine. The question of his virtue is of course quite another thing altogether. He admits he has always tended to obsess over things, these obsessions being mostly musical. Synonyms characteristic, quality, attribute, property, trait, feature, point, aspect, facet, element fact, piece of information, point, detail, particular, factor 3.3 An example or type of something. 实例；类型 the game is the latest thing in family fun 这个游戏是家庭娱乐中最新型的一种。 Example sentencesExamples There was a time when really this thing was not taken as seriously as it should have been. I've never been a fan of that sort of thing but with fashion being what it is these days I let her have it done. They are the kind of thing that lead us to react in ways which are far graver than the damage they do. The bottom line is society hasn't opened up much to accept this kind of thing. The young girl appeared oblivious to what he was up to; Martin guessed she did this sort of thing quite often. 3.4informal with adjective or noun modifier A situation or activity of a specified type or quality. 〈非正式〉特定的情况（或活动） your being here is just a friendship thing, OK? 你在这儿恰恰就是一个友好的举动，明白吗？ Example sentencesExamples It has always been a family thing—we used to drive out in a bike and side-car when our two sons were small. I'm doing the premiere party thing tonight, so will have something to say about it tomorrow. The older son thing requires its own space, so the telling will be separate, if it happens. You can see the genuine affection there and it's not a showbiz couple thing. Subman, who has a few years on me, went on and did the family thing, put on a few kilos, and gave up surfing. She was afraid because this modeling thing was a new situation so removed from her reality. In the early days, punk was a Northern thing, and more specifically, a Manchester thing. But there was almost a reluctance to do sculpture, because it was such a family thing. Synonyms matters, affairs, circumstances, conditions, relations 3.5informal A romantic or sexual relationship. Phil and Lisa had been having a thing Example sentencesExamples Asked about the rumoured relationship in an interview, she insisted: We've never had a thing. Rob's been having problems with his girlfriend and it's being said that the problem is because Rob and Kayleigh might be having a thing. Julian had a thing with Shelby and Candace had a thing with an anonymous stranger. Husband had a thing with the babysitter, who then moves in with husband and child. Trevor had a thing with her sister and got her pregnant, so there's a big backstory there. He and Jack finally have a thing going on and then he dies. Danny loves Taylor, and Kylie has a thing with Sam. OMG I didn't know he and Kirsten had a thing. 3.6informal An established or genuine phenomenon or practice (typically used in expressions registering surprise or incredulity) according to media reports, sleep texting is now a thing among serious smartphone addicts he looks like he's wearing boxers underneath his trunks (is that a thing?) Example sentencesExamples Kind of sad that having a glucose-measuring device for your kids is a thing now, worthy of a feature. I'm not sure if anyone was trading butter for dessert, but bartering at restaurants is a thing. Add some pizazz to your pregnancy by body-painting your baby bump (seriously, this is a thing). Winter white may work in November, but winter egg-shell blue is definitely not a thing. He cries some more, since that is a thing this season. Georgio, I can tell how old you are, because the kids today probably don't know that candy cigarettes were ever a thing. If Heather's reading, we have a feeling her goal was hipster biker chic, but please know that is not now and will never be a thing. Miller's sporting a string of very fashionable Fair Isle sweaters, so is that a thing now? Is it a thing now to throw Barbie dolls on stage during a concert? Here are the 10 Dos and Don'ts of Facebook-stalking your crush, if that's still a thing now. 4the thinginformal What is needed or required. 〈非正式〉需要的东西 you need a tonic—and here's just the thing 你得进补——这正是你要的东西。 4.1 What is socially acceptable or fashionable. 最适合（或最时髦）的东西 it wouldn't be quite the thing to go to a royal garden party in boots 穿着橡胶筒靴去参加皇家花园晚会是很不合时宜的。 Example sentencesExamples At the newcomer level, sketch shows seem quite the thing. Apparently it's quite the thing to drop out of society for months and take to the rivers and byways. Around the time of Michael and A Life Less Ordinary, angels were quite the thing. Synonyms fashionable, in fashion, in vogue, popular, all the rage 5one's thinginformal One's special interest or concern. 〈非正式〉爱好，关切的事 reading isn't my thing 阅读不是我的爱好。 Synonyms what one likes, what interests one 6the thinginformal Used to introduce or emphasize an important point. the thing is, I am going to sell this house 重要的是我打算卖掉这房子。 here's the thing: this is a story, not a piece of hard news that's the thing about style—no two people are completely alike Example sentencesExamples And the thing is, I'm not sure that the broadcasters ever said what sin the question actually referred to. As far as the Rove story, the thing is that Washington journalists are actually involved. But the thing is, Prof Kaufmann has been through the old reports again recently. I know I've said that I like winter, and cold weather, but the thing is, I like it in winter! Yes, but the thing is that we have got to start preventing some of these diseases. But the thing is, a website is not a therapy session, and I lost a little discipline there for a bit. And the thing is, just two days back I put through an insurance plan for myself. And the thing is, the things they're scared of are not the same things that we're scared of. Well, the thing was that I was busy Saturday, tired out Sunday, and feeling apathetic Monday. And the thing is, he is not even good looking, rich, or whatever criteria makes guys popular! But the thing is that players are remembered for their deeds on the pitch, not in the media. But the thing is, students will google while they write whether they're forbidden to or not. But the thing is, the rail network is not likely to make any more leaps and bounds if it keeps being shirky and apologetic. It was almost 20 years ago, and the thing was, it was introducing a revolutionary product. And the thing is, China is trying to make Japan fess up to its brutal crimes of history. But the thing is for all the DVDs in the world, what I really want is music - good music. Yes, but the thing is, though, he said he wants to plea bargain so he gets out of the death penalty. I hope not, but the thing is, I don't necessarily want to become a famous filmmaker. You know, the thing was, Australia was really held to ransom there, as far as I'm concerned. ‘But the thing was, of course, you got your revenge when it came to your turn,’ he says with relish. Synonyms fact of the matter, fact, point, issue, problem Phrases be all things to all men (or people) 1Please everyone, typically by regularly altering one's behavior or opinions in order to conform to those of others. 八面玲珑；投人所好 Example sentencesExamples Of course, just as SAC cannot be all things to all people, the cultural strategy will not please everyone or meet all needs. The government can't be all things to all people. The Liberals want to be all things to all people. Simply put, like the Toronto event, it is expected to be all things to all people. And it may require the reallocation of some of our resources, and we're going to have to understand that we can't be all things to all people. It was a superb attempt to be all things to all men that culminated in a result that made everyone happy. I believe that you cannot, at all times, try to be all things to all people. I'd like to just say that politicians would like to be all things to all people. The ABC can never be all things to all people, but it can be the means by which different Australians talk to each other. We do have an obligation, but we can't be all things to all people. 1.1Be able to be interpreted or used differently by different people to their own satisfaction. 能使人人满意；悉随人意 Example sentencesExamples You may not be able to be all things to all people, but when it comes to dairy packaging, the industry is sure trying. Unix doesn't have to be all things to all people to be a great system; I don't understand why its fans can't accept that. The time is past for newspapers to be all things to all people. A local paper cannot be all things to all people but what it can aim for is to have something to interest a range of people from different walks of life. ‘You're asking a piece of wood to be all things to all people,’ he says. It is trying to be all things to all people, while selling upmarket food. ‘Radio 1 tries to be all things to all people in terms of the music that it covers,’ Bryce argues. We decided to make the flower show element excellent rather than trying to be all things to all people. These products would still use all the cool underlying Mozilla technology, but no longer would they try to be all things to all people, all at once. Like all plans, it works for some and not for others - no plan can be all things to all people. be onto a good thing informal Have found a job, situation, or lifestyle that is pleasant, profitable, or easy. 〈非正式〉找到合适或待遇高的工作；过着舒适的生活 Example sentencesExamples He has plenty to chew on, but that is not necessarily a bad thing: should it all fall into place, he could well be on to a good thing. So I feel that not enough is being done to persuade people to give up because the government know that they're on to a good thing with the tobacco trade. The duo knew they were on to a good thing when they first previewed at the Edinburgh Festival in 2002 to packed audiences. He said: ‘I reckoned that there was enough demand to set up a specialist company, and when my wife also agreed, then I knew we were on to a good thing.’ He said: ‘If you are on to a good thing you stick with it.’ Standard Life Investments proved last week it knows when it is on to a good thing by launching a second European private equity fund which will undoubtedly be one of the largest and most significant launches by a Scottish house this year. For his part, Mr Cowdery is convinced he is on to a good thing. They took advantage of the new government's inexperience at the time and, knowing that it was their first project, knew they were on to a good thing and exploited the situation to the fullest. Those masters were on to a good thing, for a while. It doesn't take long before people catch on to a good thing. be hearing (or seeing) things Imagine that one can hear (or see) something that is not in fact there. 产生幻觉，见神见鬼 Example sentencesExamples I convinced myself that I was seeing things and kept walking. He blinked and then refocused, convinced he was seeing things. At first I thought I was hearing things or maybe it was crows or seagulls. At first Melissa had always said Leah was seeing things, now she knew Leah was telling the truth. I stared at her and wondered if I was seeing things. I was going to tell her she was hearing things and to go back to sleep when I heard the sound of breaking furniture below. She thought she was seeing things until another bolt of lightening lit up the room. She is hearing things, imagining them, she knows she is. Mark shook his head once again, as if he were seeing things. Approaching the bridge, we thought we were seeing things! a close (or near) thing A narrow avoidance of something unpleasant. 极险的事，死里逃生 Example sentencesExamples He managed to put out a hand to the wall just in time, but it was a near thing. It was a near thing this time. It was a close thing, but he managed to miss the vein by a hair. It was a close thing for me too, but I was young, and have a healthy heart and I lasted the whole half-hour of assault. It was a near miss as far as I was concerned, a close thing. That was a close thing and even more dramatic than the story as told here on Saturday. Theodosius also built a second set of walls around Constantinople (it had been a near thing with the Visigoths) and made Christianity the official religion of the Empire. The Franks had had a near thing after the Field of Blood, but Tyre and Azaz had somewhat redressed the balance. do one's own thing informal Follow one's own interests or inclinations regardless of others. 〈非正式〉做自己爱做的事；按自己的意愿行事 Example sentencesExamples The only way forward is for us all to work together; we can't have sport on one side and everyone else doing their own thing. However, there are too many individuals doing their own thing. People began to think about doing their own thing. Though we did walk together as a group, everyone was virtually doing their own thing. We were always independent, doing our own thing. It's just that everybody's doing their own thing. It's just a case of going out there and doing your own thing. That is what you have to create at a club, not 15 individuals doing their own thing. It's always welcome to find a band that are not following the crowd and really doing their own thing. ‘It was that teenage thing of doing your own thing as a student,’ Diana recalls. do the — thing informal Engage in the kind of behavior typically associated with someone or something. 〈非正式，主北美〉做…事 a film in which he does the bad-guy thing 一部他在里面饰演坏人的影片。 Example sentencesExamples He got the crowd doing the waving arms thing. He noticed she was a carrying a book or two and decided to do the gentlemen thing. While we're doing the media thing, might as well be time for a roundup. He is just doing the no drinking thing to keep me happy. Oh I'm definitely gonna do the sneakers thing, we're all doing it. I don't do the tests thing very often these days. I don't do the whole meeting-the-parents thing. We watched a game, had a few beers, did the lads thing, and generally I had a ball. Can we do the whole presentations thing tomorrow? I resisted the temptation to do the charades thing that indicates it's a book. do things to informal Have a powerful emotional effect on. 〈非正式〉对…施加显著影响；使受震撼 it just does things to me when we kiss 我们亲吻时我兴奋不已。 Example sentencesExamples Inspiring, amazing, and proving that in an age where film, TV, novels and the internet dominate, a truly magical piece of theatre can still do things to your feelings and emotions that no other media can. Unforunately, the bravado of temporary office sometimes does things to people. Maybe it's this country that does things to us. Apologies to my Portugese and Brazilian readers for confusing your beautiful language with the other one - it was the chocolate you know - it does things to my brain. In other words, pop is conceived of as an aesthetic object which is contemplated and ‘enjoyed’ by a transcendent subject, not as something which has effects on a body, which does things to you. It's an amazing thing to raise a child - it does things to you. 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. 首先，一则 Why hadn't he arranged to see her at the house? For one thing, it would have been warmer 他当时为什么不安排在屋里见她？首先，屋里会比较暖和。 Example sentencesExamples He flags his surprise endings far too far in advance, for one thing. Well, for one thing, there's a self-defence issue here which may justify the use of lethal force by the police officer. It's far too noisy, for one thing, plus we're all phenomenally busy, a fact that should delight upper management. Well, for one thing, writing a shocking story has been, historically, one way to bring yourself to public attention. One cannot lament its influence, for one thing because to do so would be useless. I think he wants to see how people are raising money in his wife's name, for one thing. It's got him onto the health pages of the Telegraph, for one thing. Well, for one thing, the cast of characters apparently has spread out all over the country. Not that I was inclined to go round: for one thing, I had no idea what to say. Class, for one thing, appears to have changed radically while the Queen remains. have a thing about informal Have an obsessive interest in or dislike of. 〈非正式〉对…有一种病态（或强烈）的爱好（或厌恶）；对…抱有偏见 she had a thing about men who wore glasses 她特喜欢（或讨厌）戴眼镜的男人。 Example sentencesExamples ‘Men have a thing about high heels,’ said sex shop manager Justin Parr. He had a thing about redheads and he liked singers. And, perhaps as a result, I've always had a thing about not eating too many sweets, although this never seemed to extend to alcohol. She's lovely although she has a thing about climbing. Macdonald has a thing about beaches; she can't say why, she just likes them. Some people have a thing about their thighs, stomach or numerous chins. I've always had a thing about travelling light. I have a thing about sumptuously comfortable beds. And he had a thing about not looking directly at her. For a brief period during my childhood I had a thing about boxing. Synonyms phobia, fear, horror, terror penchant for, preference for, taste for, inclination for, partiality for, predilection for, soft spot for, weakness for, fancy for, fondness for, liking for, love for, passion for have a thing for informal Have a strong liking for. I think he has a bit of a thing for you Example sentencesExamples She's the young hotshot of the woman's tennis circuit and she seems to have a thing for Peter. She and I have a thing for the movies and never miss the opening night of anything. I think he has a bit of a thing for you. He's talk, dark and handsome and has a thing for British beauties. He was a little miffed at Trevor's comment about him having a thing for Susie. Dana had a thing for chocolate - or candy in general. He has a thing for annoying me though. People will think I really do have a thing for meteorites. She apparently had a thing for smart guys. When we last left our heroes, Rachel had just found out that Ross has long had a thing for her. Synonyms phobia, fear, horror, terror penchant for, preference for, taste for, inclination for, partiality for, predilection for, soft spot for, weakness for, fancy for, fondness for, liking for, love for, passion for — is one thing, — is another Used to indicate that the second item mentioned is much more serious or important than the first, and cannot be compared to it. …是一回事，…又是另一回事 physical attraction was one thing, love was quite another 外表的吸引是一回事，爱情可就另当别论。 make a (big) thing of (or about) informal Make (something) seem more important than it actually is. 〈非正式〉把…看做必要，认为…必不可少 Example sentencesExamples The news is making a big thing of it because he's gay. My mother did not make a big thing of it, but it was impossible to ignore. I think they are probably looking for something to make a thing about. And, of course, my friends across the aisle have made a big thing about that. Should I just let it slide, or make a big thing of it? of all things Out of all conceivable possibilities (used to express surprise) （表示惊讶）偏偏；真没想到，怎么搞的 What had he been thinking about? A kitten, of all things! 他一直在想什么呢？竟然是一只小猫。 Example sentencesExamples She was shocked that someone had been as cruel as to shoot the duck and, of all things, with a crossbow. They both studied, of all things, Portuguese literature and translation. Our only used bookstore has gone, to be replaced by a pawnshop, of all things. The bizarre thing about the unsavoury incident was that the irate individual was himself, of all things, a referee. The company blamed its dismal performance on, of all things, Valentine's Day falling on a Friday. I sat back and watched as the two of them fought each other for a picture, of all things. Well the government, of all things, has called for expressions of interest just recently. He spent a few years in England in industry making, of all things, vials for medicines. I drove, of all things, an Alfa diesel, and it was a glorious experience. He went to London University for a degree in, of all things, theology. (just) one of those things informal Used to indicate that one wishes to pass over an unfortunate event or experience by regarding it as unavoidable or to be accepted. 〈非正式〉命里注定的事，不可避免的事；必须接受（或承认）的事 Example sentencesExamples If I have to move on and the money could be used to help the club relocate then it's one of those things. We were in the lead at the time, but it was one of those things. ‘It was nobody's fault what happened in Turkey, it was just one of those things,’ added Alan. Sometimes I just chalk it down to one of those things and try and move on with my life. It is just one of those things you have to accept. ‘It's just one of those things,’ said founder member Beatrice Brown. ‘What has happened is just one of those things and is not the club's fault but I am still very sad about it,’ said Hamilton. If cycling is one way to sort out York's traffic problems, how come the frequent theft of bikes is brushed off as one of those things? Unfortunately, is hasn't and it's just one of those things. He said: ‘There were no outward physical signs that the tree was rotten and going to come down, it was just one of those things.’ one thing after another A series of problems or difficulties. it's one thing after another with this kid Example sentencesExamples "It's been one thing after another with that shed," Cameron said, "We've been trying for ages to see if somebody wants it. There was nothing we could do in the end." One thing after another crowded in upon me, demanding attention and pushing further down the list the things that really mattered. I had been virtually injury free all season and then in the last few weeks I seem to have suffered one thing after another. Our heroes undergo setbacks and minor triumphs, disasters and near-disasters, even scrapes with death - one thing after another. He worked hard as a farmer, but one thing after another worked against him and he never progressed very far. Now, this year alone, the show has been plagued by one thing after another. Every time I try to get my new blog working I hit another problem, it's just one thing after another. It was just one thing after another after another, but we never felt like giving up. Even as one thing after another goes wrong, he's still a lovable goof who loses his temper but never lets it get the best of him. He said: "It's one thing after another at this club at the moment; I feel like I've been let down by the team and I can't understand why." one thing leads to another Used to suggest that the exact sequence of events is too obvious to need recounting, the listener or reader being able to guess easily what happened. 事情接踵而来 Example sentencesExamples And one thing leads to another and then pretty soon, both people are in this violent dilemma. And one thing leads to another and on and on it goes. Anyway it's also fun to see how one thing leads to another. But one thing leads to another, as smokers, dieters and alcoholics all know only too well. Like so many things in life, one thing leads to another. a thing of the past A thing that no longer happens or exists. 过去的事情，陈年往事 Example sentencesExamples Dressing up for a meeting with your accountant may soon be a thing of the past. Actually, in some parts of the world this is becoming a thing of the past. But for one group of tots, such light-hearted activity could be a thing of the past. The habit of walking children to school is mostly a thing of the past. The guide suggests that Britain is now a truly united kingdom with the north-south divide a thing of the past. a thing or two informal Used to refer to useful information that can be imparted or learned. 〈非正式〉应该知道的事情；值得了解的情况；知识，经验 Teddy taught me a thing or two about wine 特迪教给我一些关于葡萄酒的知识。 Example sentencesExamples Now that's where we could show those other countries a thing or two. He was older and had been with a few women older than himself who had taught him a thing or two. It is rich in culture and scenery and could teach us Irish a thing or two about how we care for our environment. My brother taught me a thing or two, the rest I learnt from magazines and tapes. Perhaps the Wiltshire trusts could learn a thing or two from that! As he grew up, though, he discovered a thing or two that made him change his mind. With adventures like these, you are going to have a great time and learn a thing or two. However, having served 12 years in the Royal Navy, Richard knew a thing or two about spit and polish. Katy was more than grateful to her mother for teaching her a thing or two about first aid. Our children may only be starting out on life's learning curve, but they could teach us a thing or two. things that go bump in the night humorous, informal Unexplained and frightening noises at night, regarded as being caused by ghosts. 〈非正式，幽默〉半夜鬼叫声，晚间不可思议的声音 Example sentencesExamples ‘Only things that go bump in the night,’ Alexander said. He makes great use of silence and subtle sounds to remind us that the only thing scarier to a child than hearing the things that go bump in the night is not hearing them. As a youngster I had a dreadful fear of ghost stories and things that go bump in the night. But what of the other things that go bump in the night? Don't get neurotic about things that go bump in the night! You are thinking about things that go bump in the night and monsters under your bed and vampires peering at you through your window. Meanwhile, professional ghost-finders are set to launch a three-day festival in York dedicated to the things that go bump in the night. I have a fear of things that go bump in the night. If you're not afraid of the dark or things that go bump in the night you will at least have the nerve to make it through the audition. It was an active search for things that go bump in the night in the castle-filled countrysides of Scotland and Ireland. Origin Old English, of Germanic origin; related to German Ding. Early senses included ‘meeting’ and ‘matter, concern’ as well as ‘inanimate object’. noun.1 phr.
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