Tra từ thing - Từ điển tiếng Anh - Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary

▪ I. the (latest) thing idiom
something which is very new and fashionable
• Biodegradable plastic is the latest thing.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Modern and fashionable ↑Fashion
Main entry: thing_idiom

▪ II. thing UK US [θɪŋ] noun [ things ]

OBJECT

1. <E > countable used to refer in an approximate way to an object or to avoid naming it
• What's that thing over there?
• There are some nice things in the shops this summer.
• I don't eat sweet things (= sweet food).
• How does this damn thing work?
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Objects - general words
2. things
A. <I > your possessions or a particular set of your possessions
• All their things were destroyed in the fire.
• Bring your swimming things if the weather's nice.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Belongings and possessions
B. <I > a particular set of objects
• Let me help you clear away the tea things (= cups, plates, etc. that are used for having tea).
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Things needed for a task

Common errors:
Warning: Choose the right word!
These two words look similar, but they are spelled differently and have completely different meanings.

• Whatever's that yellow thing on your plate?
• They sell dried flowers and baskets and that type of thing.
• I'm looking for a cloth for cleaning silver. Do you have such a thing?
• This case is absolutely full - I can't stuff another thing into it.
• If your home was on fire and you could save only one thing, what would it be?

IDEA/EVENT

3. <E > countable used to refer in an approximate way to an idea, subject, event, action, etc
• That was an unkind thing to say.
• I've got so many things to do I don't know where to start.
• Your information is correct but you left out one thing.
• "What's the matter?" "It's this insurance thing. I'm really worried about it."
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Objects - general words
4. the thing
<E > countable the exact fact, object, idea, event, etc
• Your letter has told me precisely the thing I needed to know.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Information and messages
5. the real thing
<A > something which is not false or a copy
• The fire alarm goes off accidentally so often that when it's the real thing (= when it really does happen) nobody will take any notice.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Reality and truth
6. the same thing
<A > the same
• Training isn't the same thing as education.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Similar and the same ↑Describing people with the same qualities
7. the whole thing
<A > everything that has been planned or discussed
• Let's call the whole thing off.
• I want to forget the whole thing.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Something, anything, nothing, and everything
8. above all things
more than everything else
• I value my freedom above all things.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Large in number or quantity
9. in all things
in every situation or subject; in everything
• Be true to yourself in all things.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Expressions used to describe situations

10. if there's one thing I want to know/find out, etc.
said before describing what it is that you especially want to know or discover, etc
• If there's one thing I want to know, it's where he goes on Thursday afternoons.

Common errors:
Warning: Choose the right word!
These two words look similar, but they are spelled differently and have completely different meanings.

• What an utterly stupid thing to do!
• The most urgent thing to do in a fire is to make sure everyone is out of the building.
• My wedding was the most nerve-racking thing I've ever experienced.
• That was a horrible thing to say!
• You'd never believe some of the things that happen in the office.

SITUATION

11. things
<I > plural used to refer to the general situation
• Things have been going very well recently.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Situations and circumstances
12. it's a good thing
<A > If it's a good thing that something happened, it is lucky that it happened
• It's a good thing (that) we booked our tickets early.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Good luck and bad luck
13. the way things are ( also as things stand )
in the present situation
• The way things are, I'll never have this ready by June.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Situations and circumstances

Common errors:
Warning: Choose the right word!
These two words look similar, but they are spelled differently and have completely different meanings.

ANYTHING/EVERYTHING

14. a thing
<E > only singular used instead of 'anything' or 'everything' to emphasize what you are saying
• Don't worry about a thing (= anything). I'll take care of it.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Something, anything, nothing, and everything
15. not a (single) thing
<A > not anything
• After the guests had gone, there wasn't a thing left to eat.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Something, anything, nothing, and everything
16. not have a thing to wear ( also have nothing to wear ) humorous
to have no clothes that are suitable for an occasion
• I'm going to a wedding on Saturday and I don't have a thing to wear.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Wearing clothes
17. there isn't a thing you can do
you cannot do anything
• He broke his promise and there wasn't a thing we could do about it.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Something, anything, nothing, and everything

Common errors:
Warning: Choose the right word!
These two words look similar, but they are spelled differently and have completely different meanings.

ACTION

18. a/one thing
only singular used to talk about a particular action, agreement, etc.
• I went by plane, a thing I hardly ever do.
• One thing you'll have to agree to is working in the evenings.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Something, anything, nothing, and everything

19. the... thing
<E > only singular used to make noun phrases with particular adjectives and adverbs
• The first thing (to do) is to write your name at the top of the page.

Common errors:
Warning: Choose the right word!
These two words look similar, but they are spelled differently and have completely different meanings.

REASON

20. for one thing
used to introduce a reason for something
• "Why won't you come to New York with me?" "For one thing, I don't like flying, and for another, I can't afford it."
Thesaurus⁺: ↑Connecting words which introduce a cause or reason

Common errors:
Warning: Choose the right word!
These two words look similar, but they are spelled differently and have completely different meanings.

PERSON/ANIMAL

21. countable used after an adjective to refer to a person or animal with love or sympathy
• The poor things were kept in small cages without room to move.
• as form of address You lucky thing winning a car.
Thesaurus⁺: ↑General and informal words for animals

Common errors:
Warning: Choose the right word!
These two words look similar, but they are spelled differently and have completely different meanings.
Idioms: How are things? ▪ If it's not one thing it's another ▪ all things being equal ▪ all things considered ▪ all things to all men ▪ and another thing ▪ do your own thing ▪ does things to you ▪ done thing ▪ have a thing about somebody ▪ just the thing ▪ last thing you want ▪ make a big thing of something ▪ near thing ▪ not the done thing ▪ on to a good thing ▪ one of those things ▪ one thing after another ▪ one thing leads to another ▪ seeing things ▪ take things easy ▪ thing is ▪ thing of the past ▪ thing or two ▪ things that go bump in the night ▪ what with one thing and another