Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary полностью

24 PHRASE If you say it is just one of those things you mean that you cannot explain something because it seems to happen by chance. □  'I wonder why.' Mr. Dambar shrugged. 'It must be just one of those things, I guess.'

25 PHRASE You say one thing led to another when you are explaining how something happened, but you do not really want to give the details or you think people will be able to imagine the details. □  He came by to see if she was lonely. One thing led to another and he stayed the night.

26 PHRASE If you do your own thing , you live, act, or behave in the way you want to, without paying attention to convention or depending on other people. [INFORMAL ] □  We accept the right of all men and women to do their own thing, however bizarre.

27 PHRASE If something is a thing of the past , it no longer exists or happens, or is being replaced by something new.

28 PHRASE [usu cont] If you say that someone is seeing or hearing things , you mean that they believe they are seeing or hearing something that is not really there. □  Dr Payne led Lana back into the examination room and told her she was seeing things.

29 PHRASE You can say there is no such thing as something to emphasize that it does not exist or is not possible. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ as ] There really is no such thing as a totally risk-free industry.

30 PHRASE You say the thing is to introduce an explanation, comment, or opinion, that relates to something that has just been said. The thing is is often used to identify a problem relating to what has just been said. [SPOKEN ] □  'What does your market research consist of?'—'Well, the thing is, it depends on our target age group.'

31 PHRASE If you say that something is just the thing or is the very thing , you are emphasizing that it is exactly what is wanted or needed. [EMPHASIS ] □ [+ for ] Kiwi fruit are just the thing for a healthy snack.

32 PHRASE If you say that a person knows a thing or two about something or could teach someone a thing or two about it, you mean that they know a lot about it or are good at it. □ [+ about ] Patricia Hewitt knows a thing or two about how to be well-organised. □  The peace movement has learnt a thing or two from Vietnam.

33other things being equal → see equal

34first things first → see first

35the real thing → see real

36the shape of things to come → see shape

thingum|my /θ I ŋəmi/ (thingummies ) N‑COUNT You refer to something or someone as thingummy , thingummyjig or thingummybob when you do not know or cannot be bothered to use the proper word or name for them. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □  I once bought a thingummy out of one of those catalogues. □  I must say, I mean, it sounded like er thingummyjig all over again without the politics.

thingy /θ I ŋi/ (thingies ) N‑COUNT You refer to something or someone as thingy when you do not know or cannot be bothered to use the proper word or name for them. [INFORMAL , SPOKEN ] □  …the new phone thingy. □  …what's his name, Sir Jack Thingy.

think ◆◆◆ /θ I ŋk/ (thinks , thinking , thought )