thing
noun uk/θɪŋ/ us/θɪŋ/
(OBJECT)
A1 [ C ]物，东西
used to refer in an approximate way to an object or to avoid naming it
What's that thing over there? 那边的是什么东西？
There are some nice things in the shops this summer. 今年夏天商店里有些好东西。
I don't eat sweet things (= sweet food). 我不吃甜食。
How does this stupid thing work? 这鬼东西怎么用？
things[ plural ]A1 UK财产;（个人的）所有物，用具
your possessions or a particular set of your possessions
All their things were destroyed in the fire. 他们所有的东西都被大火烧掉了。
Bring your swimming things if the weather's nice. 如果天气好，带上你的游泳用品。
- More examples
- 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)
A2 [ C ]想法;主题;事件;行为
used to refer in an approximate way to an idea, subject, event, action, etc.
That was an unkind thing to say. 那样说是不友好的。
I've got so many things to do I don't know where to start. 我有许多事情要做，都不知道从何下手。
Your information is correct but you left out one thing. 你的消息是正确的，不过你遗漏了一件事。
"What's the matter?" "It's this insurance thing. I'm really worried about it." “怎么回事？”“是保险这事。我真的很担心。”
the thing[ C ] 事实（东西、想法、事件等）本身
the exact fact, object, idea, event, etc.
The article was exactly the thing I needed for my research. 这篇文章正好是我研究需要的东西。
the real thing 真事；真品，非赝品
something that 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. 火灾报警器常常瞎响，到时候真的着火时发警报也没有人会注意了。
the same thingB1 同样的事物
the same
Training isn't the same thing as education. 培训与教育并不一样。
the whole thingB2 一切（计划或讨论过的）事情
everything that has been planned or discussed
Let's call the whole thing off. 此事就此作罢吧。
I want to forget the whole thing. 我想忘掉这一切。
above all things 比其他任何事情都重要
more than everything else
I value my freedom above all things. 我把自由看得比什么都重要。
in all things 在一切事情上；在各种情况下
in every situation or subject; in everything
Be true to yourself in all things. 任何时候都要坚持按自己的想法做。
if there's one thing I want to know, find out, etc. 有一件事我想知道
said before describing what it is that you especially want to know
If there's one thing I want to know, it's where he goes on Thursday afternoons. 有一件事我想知道，就是他每个星期四下午都到哪里去了。
- More examples
- 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)
thingsB1 [ plural ] 情况；形势
used to refer to the general situation
Things have been going very well recently. 最近情况很好。
it's a good thingB2 幸好
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. 幸好我们早订了票。
the way things are(also as things stand) 从目前情况来看
in the present situation
The way things are, I'll never have this ready by June. 从目前情况来看，6月份前我绝对无法把这一切准备好。
(ANYTHING/EVERYTHING)
a thingB1 [ S ] （表示强调）事情，东西
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. 什么事情也不要操心，我会料理好一切的。
not a (single) thingB2 没有任何东西
not anything
After the guests had gone, there wasn't a thing left to eat. 客人走后，吃的东西一点都没剩。
not have a thing to wearB1humorous (also have nothing to wear) 没有合适的衣服可穿
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. 我周六要去参加一个婚礼，可没有合适的衣服可穿。
there isn't a thing you can do 无能为力;无计可施
you cannot do anything
He broke his promise and there wasn't a thing we could do about it. 他不履行诺言，对此我们无计可施。
(ACTION)
a/one thing[ S ] 一种事;这种事
used to talk about a particular action, agreement, etc.
I went by plane, a thing I hardly ever do. 我是乘飞机去的——我很少这样。
One thing you'll have to agree to is working in the evenings. 有件你必须同意的事，就是你得在晚上工作。
the ... thing[ S ] （构成带有特定形容词和副词的名词短语）
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 paper. 首先要做的就是把你的名字写在这一页的上方。
(REASON)
for one thingC2 首先;一方面
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." “你为什么不跟我到纽约来？”“首先，我不喜欢坐飞机;再者，我买不起机票。”
(PERSON/ANIMAL)
B2 [ C ]人，家伙，东西（指人或动物，带有疼爱或怜悯的感情色彩）
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. 这些可怜的东西都被关在小笼子里，连动一动的空间都没有。
[ as form of address ] I can't believe you won - you lucky thing! 我真不敢相信你赢了——你这走运的家伙。
Idioms More idioms
a close/near thingidiom UK (US also UK a close call) 几乎发生的事
something bad that almost happened
The car just missed the child but it was a very close thing. 汽车差点撞着小孩，就差那么一点点。
all things being equalidiom 如果一切照常；如果一切顺利
if everything happens as expected
All things being equal, I'll be at home on Tuesday. 如果一切顺利，我星期二就能回家。
all things consideredidiom C1 考虑到所有因素，总的说来
Someone might say that something is good all things considered to mean it was generally good although the situation was not perfect.
I think the party was great, all things considered - I mean we didn't have much time to get ready, but it still went well. 总的说来，我认为晚会是成功的——我指的是我们没有多少时间准备，但仍然一切顺利。
all things to all peopleidiom (UK also all things to all men)使人人满意;八面玲珑
If you try to be all things to all people, you try to do things that will please everyone.
and another thingidiom 再者，此外
used to introduce one more in a series of arguments or complaints
And another thing, why didn't you tell me you were going out? 还有，当时你为什么不告诉我你要出去？
a thing of the pastidiom 往事
something that no longer happens
Giving up your seat to an older person seems to be a thing of the past. 现在好像很少有人给老人让座了。
a thing or twoidiom 一些事情;些许知识，一星半点
some matters, facts, or information
I'm having trouble paying attention - I have a thing or two on my mind. 我现在很难集中注意力——我心里有事。
Why don't you ask Andrew about it? He knows a thing or two about (= has some knowledge of) computers. 这个问题为什么不问问安德鲁？他懂点计算机。
She thinks she knows everything about raising children, but I could tell her a thing or two (= some information she does not know). 她觉得自己对于养育孩子样样精通，不过我倒可以让她见识一二。
be hearing/imagining/seeing thingsidiom informal 产生幻觉
to think you are experiencing something that is not really happening
I'm sure I saw my glasses on this table, but they're not here now. I must have been seeing things. 我肯定看见我的眼镜在桌子上，可是现在不在这儿。我一定是产生幻觉了。
be one thing after anotheridiom (also be one thing after the other) 事情一件接一件
You say that it is one thing after another/the other when many things are happening in a short time.
I've been so busy today. It's been one thing after another. 今天我忙得不可开交，事情一件接着一件。
be on to a good thingidiom informal 过上舒心的日子;找到好工作
to have an easy and pleasant life or job in which it is not necessary to work hard
He's on to a good thing, he has free accommodation in return for a little easy work around the house. 他可交了好运，只需要给房东做一点容易的家务就让他免了住宿费。
do your own thingidiom informalC2 按照自己的方式做事，走自己的路
to do what you want without worrying about what anyone else thinks of you
someone/something does things to youidiom informal 使震撼，深深打动
Something or someone that does things to you has a strong, usually enjoyable, effect on you.
That music really does things to me. 那音乐深深地打动了我。
have a thing about something/someoneidiom informal 非常喜欢…;特别讨厌…
to like or dislike something or someone very much
Ben's got a thing about Harley Davidsons - he's got three of them. 本特别喜欢哈雷·戴维森摩托车——他已经有了3辆。
She's got a thing about spiders - she won't go near them. 她特别讨厌蜘蛛——碰都不会碰。
how are things (with you)?idiom B1 你好吗？
informal for "how are you?"
if it's not one thing, it's anotheridiom saying 按倒葫芦又起瓢；问题不断
used when bad things keep happening to you
is that even a thing?idiom （强调惊讶）真有这个东西？
used when you are surprised that something exists
Kim Kardashian says she has "pregnancy lips", but is that even a thing? 金·卡戴珊说她有“孕期的嘴唇”，但是真有这个东西吗？
just the thingidiom (also the very thing) 正是所需之物
exactly what is needed
A week's rest would be just the thing for her. 休息一周正是她所需要的。
make a big thing (out) of somethingidiom informal 把…看得过于重要，对…小题大做
to give something too much importance
I want a party, but I don't want to make a big thing of it. 我想搞一次聚会，不过我不想搞得太大。
not the done thingidiom mainly UK (US usually not the thing to do) 不礼貌;不合礼仪
not socially acceptable
Smoking during a meal is not the done thing. 吃饭时吸烟是不礼貌的。
(just) one of those thingsidiom informal 命中注定的事；不可避免的事
said to mean that there was no way of planning to avoid something
The road was blocked, so we missed the meeting - it was just one of those things. 道路堵塞，结果我们错过了会议——这没办法。
one thing leads to anotheridiom 一环扣一环；一来二去；自然而然
If one thing leads to another, there is a series of events in which each event was caused by the previous one.
At first, we were just talking a little, but one thing led to another, and he asked me out. 起初我们只是一起说说话，一来二去，他就约我出去了。
take things easyidiom 放松些;工作别太紧张
to relax and not work too hard
My doctor told me to take things easy for a while. 我的医生让我放松一段时间。
the done thingidiom mainly UK (US usually the thing to do) 礼貌，礼仪，礼节;规矩
what you are expected to do in a social situation
Don't forget to shake hands - it's the done thing, you know. 别忘了握手——你知道，这是礼貌。
the last thing you want, need, etc.idiom 根本不想／不需要（等等）的东西
something that you certainly do not want, need, etc.
Go home? That's the last thing I want to do! 回家？我决不！
the (latest) thingidiom 新事物;时尚物品
something that is very new and fashionable
Retina scanning is the latest thing. 视网膜扫描是新近才有的。
the thing isidiom B2 informal问题是
used to introduce an explanation or an excuse
The thing is, my parents like me to be home by ten o'clock. 问题是，我父母想要我10点前回家。
The thing is, the shops close early on Sundays. 问题是，商店星期天很早就关门。
要紧的是
used to emphasize the importance of what you are saying
The thing is to keep a good distance from the car in front of you, when you're driving in snow. 要紧的是，在雪地驾车时，你要和前面的车辆保持很远的距离。
things that go bump in the nightidiom humorous 夜里可怕的响动;难解之谜
used to describe anything unknown that might be frightening, especially a noise
what with one thing and anotheridiom informal 因为事情一个接着一个，因为忙得不可开交
You say what with one thing and another when you want to explain that the reason you have failed to do something is because you have been very busy.
What with one thing and another, I forgot to call you yesterday. 由于昨天事情一件接着一件，我忘了给你打电话。