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think
body. | One thing is certain – I'm not lending him any money again. | She talked very fast and I couldn't understand a thing she said. | The job has got a lot of things going for it. (=several advantages) | There's no such thing as a cure for all ills. (=such a thing does not exist) 3 [C] that which has been or will be done; an action, activity, or event: What's the next thing we have to do? | I hope I'm doing the right thing in accepting this job. | We're expecting great things from our new manager. | The first thing is for you to talk to your teacher (=that is what you should do first) | If you do that she might resign, which is the last thing we want. (=we do not want this to happen at all) | A funny thing happened at work today. | You couldn't help getting ill – it's just one of those things. (=an event that cannot be avoided) 4 [C] a subject; matter: There's one more thing I wanted to say. | There are one or two things I'd like to discuss with you. | Let's just forget the whole thing. 5 [C] a person or animal: He's been very ill, poor thing. | There wasn't a living thing in the woods. 6 [C] a garment; piece of clothing: I haven't got a thing to wear. | Did you bring your swimming things? 7 [the] that which is necessary or desirable: I think I've got just the thing you need. | Cold beer's just the thing on a hot day! 8 [the (in)] the fashion or custom: She was wearing the latest thing in shoes. | It's not the (done) thing to eat off your knife. 9 [S] slang an activity very satisfying to one personally: Everyone should be free to do their (own) thing. 10 a thing of the past something which no longer exists: Good manners seem to have become a thing of the past. 11 for one thing (used for introducing a reason): For one thing we can't afford it, and for another it's ugly. 12 have a thing about infml to have unusually strong feelings, usually of like or dislike, about: He's got a thing about planes – he just won't go on them. 13 make a thing of infml to give too much importance to: I disagree with you, but don't let's make a thing of it! 14 take one thing with another considering everything that needs to be considered 15 have a good thing going AmE spoken to be in a situation in which you will earn a lot of money, gain a lot of advantages etc: The Chamber Orchestra had a good thing going with its period-instrument concerts, but the quality has slipped a little recently. | How stupid can you be? You thought you had a good thing going and that nobody would notice that you were taking their things? → see also THINGS, CLOSE THING, NEAR THING, SURE THING, first thing (FIRST), good thing (GOOD)
**USAGE** The thing is can be used in informal conversation when you give a reason for something you have said, or introduce something which you think is the main point: I've got a bit of a problem. The thing is, all the banks are closed. So could you lend me some money until tomorrow? | 'Why won't you marry me, Mary?' 'I'm sorry, John. The thing is, I don't want to marry anyone.'
**thing-a-ma-jig**, **thingumajig**, **thingummyjig** /'θɪŋəmædʒɪɡ/ also **thing-a-ma-bob** /'θɪŋəmɒbɒb-bɑ:b/, **thing-um-my** /'θɪŋəmi/, **thing-ie** /'θɪŋi/ n infml a person or thing, especially one whose name one has forgotten or does not know: Have you got the thingamajig for opening bottles?
**things** /θɪŋz/ n [P] 1 personal possessions; belongings: Pack your things. We're going to leave. 2 the general state of affairs at a particular time; situation: The car ran out of petrol, and to make things worse I didn't have any money on me. | The way things stand at the moment, we can't possibly afford a holiday. | Cheer up – things aren't as bad as they seem. 3 the dishes, cups, knives etc, used for the stated meal: We must clear away the breakfast things. 4 all things to all men pleasing to everyone or useful for everything: You should stop trying to be all things to all men. 5 of all things (used for expressing surprise): She ordered frogs' legs, of all things! → see also hear things (HEAR), see things (SEE)
**Things Fall A'part** (1958) a novel by the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe about the problems experienced by traditional African societies as their way of life changes in the 20th century. It was one of the first African novels to become well known in Europe and the US.
**think**¹ /θɪŋk/ v **thought** /θɔ:t/ 1 [(about);T] to use the power of reason; make judgments or careful considerations; use the mind to form ideas and opinions: She thought long and hard before coming to a decision. | My headache was so bad I could hardly think straight. | You look very thoughtful; what are you thinking about? | thinking great thoughts | teaching children to think for themselves (=to form their own opinions) | I thought to myself (=I had the thought) 'He's behaving very oddly.' → see also THINK ABOUT 2 [T] to believe; consider; have an opinion: [+that] The police think that the bomb was planted by terrorists. | I think she's wrong, don't you? | 'Do you think it will rain?' 'Yes, I think so.' | Who do you think murdered the old lady? (=in your opinion, who murdered her?) | I don't think she'll come. (=I think she will not come.) | I don't think she'll come; I know she'll come. (=Not only do I think she'll come, but I know she'll come.) | From the way he behaves, you'd think he owned the company. (=he behaves in a way that suggests this, though it is not true) | [+obj+v/adj] (fml) He thinks himself a great poet. | I thought her rather clever. | [+obj+to-v;pass.] The government is thought to be planning an election in June. (=this is what most people think) → see also THINK of (2) 3 [T+wh-;əbj] (used after cannot and could not) to imagine; understand: I can't think why you did it. | He's a most unpleasant man – I can't think why she married him. 4 [T+wh-;əbj] to reason about; bring to mind; remember: Think how big and varied the world is. | Try and think where you last saw him. 5 [T+(that);əbj] to have as a half-formed intention or plan: I think I'm going to make some tea – would you like a cup? | We thought we'd go swimming tomorrow. | 'You'll go swimming tomorrow, will you?' 'Yes, I thought so.' (=that is my intention) || [+to-v] [old use] They thought to deceive me, but I was too clever for them. → see also THINK OF 6 [T+(that); obj] to expect: She said she'd kill him, but I never thought she'd actually do it. | We didn't think we'd be this late. | Who would have thought that she'd end up as prime minister? (shows surprise) | 'He's in trouble with the police again.' 'I thought as much.' (=That's just what I expected.) 7 [T+to-v;əbj; usually in negatives] to be sensitive or thoughtful enough (to do something): I didn't think to ask her if she had passed her exam. 8 [T+(that);əbj] (used in requests): Do you think you could help me with this box? 9 think aloud to speak one's thoughts as they come 10 think big infml to plan to do things on a large scale rather than carefully or in a limited way 11 think on one's feet to think and make decisions quickly 12 think twice to think very carefully about something: I should think twice before accepting that offer; it sounds rather suspicious. 13 I think, therefore I am quote a phrase used by the French PHILOSOPHER René Descartes → see also see/think fit to (FIT) →-er n: Bertrand Russell, one of the great thinkers of our age
**SYNTAX** 1 To make this word stronger, say I thought hard. | I thought deeply. 2 In negative sentences, the negative normally goes with think, not with the next verb: I don't think she'll come. | They didn't think he was good enough.
**think about sthg.** phr v [T] 1 to consider seriously before making a decision: 'Dad, will you buy me a new bike?' 'I don't know; I'll have to think about it.' 2 to THINK of
**think of sbdy./sthg.** phr v [T] 1 to have formed a possible but not firmly settled plan for: I'd thought of blue for this room. | [+v-ing] We're thinking of going to France for our holidays, but we haven't decided for certain yet. → see also THINK 2 to have as an opinion about: What do you think of/about the government's latest offer to the teachers? → see also THINK 3 to take into account; consider: Do be careful – think of the risks you're taking. | It's a nice idea, but think of the cost! 4 (used after cannot and could not and in the infinitive after try, want etc) to remember: I can't think of his name. | I tried to think of her phone number, but I just couldn't remember it. 5 not think much of to have a low opinion of: I don't think much of these so-called improvements to the town centre. 6 not think of infml not consider or not be able to: I wouldn't think of letting you walk home on a night like this. 7 think better of something to change one's opinion about something; decide wisely against something: I was going to ask him to help, but thought better of (doing) it. 8 think highly/well/little/poorly/etc of to have a good/ bad/etc opinion of (someone or something): We all think very highly of her. → see also WELL-THOUGHT-OF 9 think nothing of to regard as usual or easy: He thinks nothing of walking four miles to work and back every day. 10 think nothing of it (a reply to thanks or an APOLOGY) I'm very glad