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thing /θiɳ/

• danh từ
  • cái, đồ, vật, thứ, thức, điều, sự, việc, món
    • expensive things: những thứ đắt tiền
  • đồ dùng, dụng cụ
    • the things: bộ đồ trà
  • đồ đạc, quần áo...
    • put your things on and come for a walk: anh hãy mặc quần áo vào rồi đi chơi
  • vấn đề, điều, công việc, sự việc, chuyện
    • there's another thing I want to ask you about: còn một vấn đề nữa tôi muốn hỏi anh
    • that only makes things worse: cái đó chỉ làm cho tình hình xấu hơn, cái đó chỉ làm cho sự việc rắc rối hơn
    • you take things too seriously: anh quá quan hoá vấn đề
    • the best thing to do is...: điều đó tốt nhất là...
    • that is quite a different thing: đó là một việc hoàn toàn khác
    • I have a lot of things to do: tôi có một lô công việc phải làm
  • người, sinh vật
    • poor little thing!: tội nghiệp thằng bé!
    • you silly thing!: cậu thật là ngốc
    • dumb things: thú vật, súc vật
  • (pháp lý) của cải, tài sản
    • things personal: động sản
  • mẫu, vật mẫu, thứ, kiểu
    • it is the newest thing out: đây là kiểu (thứ) mới nhất
    • it's quite the thing: thật đúng kiểu, thật đúng mốt
  • above all things
    • trên hết
  • as a general thing
    • thường thường, nói chung
  • to know a thing or two
    • có kinh nghiệm, láu
  • to look (feel) quite the thing
    • trông ra vẻ (cảm thấy) khoẻ mạnh
  • to make a good thing out of something
    • kiếm chác được ở cái gì

thingsθɪŋ
noun
+a special situation
+an action
+an artifact
+an event
+a statement regarded as an object
+any attribute or quality considered as having its own existence
+a special abstraction
+a vaguely specified concern
+an entity that is not named specifically
+a special objective
+a persistent illogical feeling of desire or aversion
+a separate and self-contained entity

+ noun
object
1 [C] an object whose name you do not use because you do not need to or want to, or because you do not know it: Can you pass me that thing over there? + She's very fond of sweet things (= sweet foods). + He's just bought one of those exercise things. + Turn that thing off while I'm talking to you!
2 [C] an object that is not alive in the way that people and plants are: Don't treat her like that-she's a person, not a thing! + He's good at making things with his hands. + She took no interest in the people and things around her.
possessions / equipment
3 (things) [pl.] objects, clothing or tools that belong to sb or are used for a particular purpose: Shall I help you pack your things? + Bring your swimming things with you. + I'll just clear away the breakfast things. + Put your things (= coat, etc.) on and let's go.
anything
4 (a thing) [sing.] used with negatives to mean 'anything' in order to emphasize what you are saying: I haven't got a thing to wear! + She hasn't had a thing to eat all day. + There wasn't a thing we could do to help. + Ignore what he said-it doesn't mean a thing.
fact / event / situation / action
5 [C] a fact, an event, a situation or an action; what sb says or thinks: There are a lot of things she doesn't know about me. + There's another thing I'd like to ask you. + A terrible thing happened last night. + He found the whole thing very boring. + I've got loads of things to do today. + The main thing to remember is to switch off the burglar alarm. + I like camping, climbing and that sort of thing. + She said the first thing that came into her head. + 'Why did you tell her our secret?' 'I did no such thing!' + Let's forget the whole thing (= everything).
6 (things) [pl.] the general situation, as it affects sb: Things haven't gone entirely to plan. + (spoken) Hi, Jane! How are things? + Think things over before you decide. + As things stand at present, he seems certain to win. + All things considered (= considering all the difficulties or problems), she's done very well. + Why do you make things so difficult for yourself?
what is needed / right
7 [C, usually sing.] what is needed or socially acceptable: You need something to cheer you up-I know just the thing! + to do / say the right / wrong thing + The best thing to do is to apologize.
things of particular type
8 (things) [pl.] (formal) (followed by an adjective) all that can be described in a particular way: She loves all things Japanese.
creature
9 [C] (used with an adjective) a living creature: All living things are composed of cells.
person / animal
10 [C] (with an adjective) (spoken) used to talk to or about a person or an animal, to show how you feel about them: You silly thing! + You must be starving, you poor things. + The cat's very ill, poor old thing.
Idioms: A is one thing, B is another
it's one thing to do A, it's another thing to do B B is very different from A, for example it is more difficult, serious or important: Romance is one thing, marriage is quite another. + It's one thing to tease your sister, but it's another to hit her.
all / other things being equal if the conditions stay the same; if other conditions are the same: All things being equal, we should finish the job tomorrow.
and things (like that) (spoken, informal) used when you do not want to complete a list: She likes nice clothes and things like that. + I've been busy shopping and things.
be all things to all men / people
1 (of people) to please everyone by changing your attitudes or opinions to suit different people
2 (of things) to be understood or used in different ways by different people
come to / be the same thing to have the same result or meaning
be a good thing (that) ... to be lucky that ...: It's a good thing we got here early.
be no bad thing (that) ... used to say that although sth seems to be bad, it could have good results: We didn't want the press to get hold of the story, but it might be no bad thing.
be onto a good thing to have found a job, situation or style of life that is pleasant or easy
the best thing since sliced bread (spoken, informal) if you say that sth is the best thing since sliced bread, you think it is extremely good, interesting, etc.
do things to sb (informal) to have a powerful emotional effect on sb: That song just does things to me.
do your own thing (informal) to do what you want to do or what interests you, without thinking about other people; to be independent
first / last thing ... early in the morning/late in the evening: I need the report on my desk first thing Monday morning. + I took the dog for a walk last thing before going to bed.
first things first (often humorous) the most important matters must be dealt with first: We have a lot to discuss, but, first things first, let's have a cup of coffee!
for one thing used to introduce one of two or more reasons for doing sth: 'Why don't you get a car?' 'Well, for one thing, I can't drive!'
have a thing about sb/sth (informal) to have a strong like or dislike of sb/sth in a way that seems strange or unreasonable: She has a thing about men with beards.
it isn't my, his, etc. thing it isn't sth that you really enjoy or are interested in
it's a ...thing (informal) it is sth that only a particular group understands: You wouldn't know what it means-it's a girl thing.
know / tell sb a thing or two (about sb/sth) (informal) to know/tell sb some useful, interesting or surprising information about sb/sth: She's been married five times, so she knows a thing or two about men!
make a (big) thing of / about sth (informal) to make sth seem more important than it really is
not know, etc. the first thing about sth/sb to know nothing at all about sth/sb: We've lived next to him for years, but we still don't know the first thing about him.
not quite the thing
1 not considered socially acceptable: It wouldn't be quite the thing to turn up in running gear.
2 (old-fashioned) not healthy or normal
(just) one of those things used to say that you do not want to discuss or think about sth bad or unpleasant that has happened, but just accept it: It wasn't your fault. It was just one of those things.
one (damned / damn) thing after another (spoken) used to complain that a lot of unpleasant things keep happening to you
one thing leads to another used to suggest that the way one event or action leads to others is so obvious that it does not need to be stated: He offered me a ride home one night, and, well, one thing led to another and now we're married!
seeing / hearing things (informal) to imagine that you can see or hear sth that is in fact not there: (humorous) Tom's washing the dishes-I must be seeing things!
there's only one thing for it there is only one possible course of action
the thing is (spoken) used to introduce an important fact, reason or explanation: I'm sorry my assignment isn't finished. The thing is, I've had a lot of other work this week.
the thing (about / with sth/sb) is used to introduce a problem about sth/sb: The thing with Karl is, he's always late.
the (whole) ...thing (informal) a situation or an activity of the type mentioned: She really didn't want to be involved in the whole family thing.
things that go bump in the night (informal, humorous) used to refer to ghosts and other SUPERNATURAL things that cannot be explained: There are mysterious lights in the sky and things that go bump in the night.
too much of a good thing used to say that, although sth is pleasant, you do not want to have too much of it
(what) with one thing and another (informal) because you have been busy with various problems, events or things you had to do: I completely forgot her birthday, what with one thing and another.
more at CHANCE n., CLOSE adj., CLOSE adv., DAY, DECENT, DONE, EASY adv., NATURE, NEAR adj., ONLY adj., OVERDO, PUSH v., REAL, SCHEME n., SHAPE n., SURE adj., TURN v., WAY n., WORK v.
VOCABULARY BUILDING
other words for 'thing'
Instead of using the word thing, try to use more precise and interesting words, especially in formal written English.
aspect That was the most puzzling aspect of the situation. (...the most puzzling thing about...)
attribute Curiosity is an essential attribute for a journalist. (...an essential thing for a journalist to have.)
characteristic This bird has several interesting characteristics. (There are several interesting things about this bird.)
detail I want to know every detail of what happened. (...everything about...)
feature Noise is a familiar feature of city life. (...a familiar thing in city life.)
issue She has campaigned on many controversial issues. (...many controversial things.)
matter We have several important matters to deal with at this meeting. (...several important things...)
point That's a very interesting point you made. (...a very interesting thing you said.)
subject The book covers a number of subjects. (...a number of things.)
topic We discussed a wide range of topics. (...a wide range of things.)
trait Her generosity is one of her most attractive traits. (...one of the most attractive things about her.)
Don't use thing after an adjective when the adjective can be used on its own: Having your own computer is very useful. + Having your own computer is a very useful thing.
It is often more natural to use words like something, anything, etc. instead of thing: I have something important to tell you. + I have an important thing to tell you. + Do you want anything else? + Do you want any other thing?
It is more natural to say a lot, a great deal, much, etc. rather than many things: I have so much to tell you. + I have so many things to tell you. + She knows a lot about basketball. + She knows many things about basketball.