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the meeting? 'The reason was that he forgot.' | The problem is that we didn't bring enough money. c) (used especially after so or such to express purpose or result): He was so rude that/He spoke in such a rude manner that she refused to reply. | Bring it closer so (that) I can see it better. | (infl) Bring it closer so (that) I may see it better. d) (used for expressing reason): We rejoice that you are safe. 2 (used as a RELATIVE PRONOUN) a) (as the subject of a CLAUSE) which/who: Did you see the letter that came today? | He's the greatest man that's ever lived. b) (as the object of the verb in a CLAUSE) which/whom: Did you get the books (that) I sent you? | There are lots of things (that) I need to do before I leave tonight. c) (as the object of a PREPOSITION in a CLAUSE) which/whom: There's the man (that) I was telling you about. | They've found the gun that she was shot with. d) (introducing a CLAUSE) in, on, for, or at which: The day that he came I was out. | The speed (that) she drives, I'm surprised she hasn't killed herself! e) according to; as far as: He's never been here that I know of. 3 lit (used for introducing an expression of desire): Oh that I could fly! (=I wish I could fly!) | Would (that) he had never come! (=I wish he had never come!)
USAGE 1 In ordinary speech that can often be left out before a noun clause, especially after common verbs of saying or thinking: She said (that) it wasn't time. | I think (that) it's fine. | He told me (that) he agreed. | I'm glad (that) you passed your exam. | I knew (that) he had arrived. It is not usually left out in formal English or after more formal verbs of saying: She stated that the report was incomplete. 2 That can only be used instead of who or which when they limit the meaning of a noun more narrowly: Which of my brothers did you meet? The one who/that lives in Glasgow, or the one who/that lives in Leeds? It cannot be used to introduce additional information in sentences like: This is my father who (NOT that) lives in Leeds. (=I am introducing my father and telling you where he lives)
that⁴ /ðæt/ adv [usually in questions and negatives] infml so; to such a degree: It wasn't that good, actually. (=it was quite good but not very good) | We haven't seen all that much of her. | (BrE dial) I was that hungry I could have eaten a horse!
thatch¹ /θætʃ/ v [T] to cover (a roof) or the roof of (a building) with thatch: Our house has a thatched roof. —-er n
thatch² n 1 [U] roof covering of STRAW, REEDS etc 2 [C] humor a mass of thick or untidy hair on the head
thatched 'cottage n a house in the country with a thatched roof. Thatched cottages are considered to be very attractive and old-fashioned. -> see colour photo on page A40
Thatch·er, Margaret /'θætʃər/ (1925-) a British politician in the Conservative Party, now officially called Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, and sometimes called Maggie in the newspapers. She became leader of her party in 1975, and in 1979 became the UK's first woman Prime Minister, a position she held until 1990. She won three GENERAL ELECTIONS - in 1979, 1983, and 1987 - and she had a lot of influence on British politics and on British life. Her ideas become known as Thatcherism, and under her leadership politics in the UK became much more RIGHT-WING. During her time as Prime Minister, the Conservative government reduced taxes, took away power from TRADE UNIONS, and started a programme of PRIVATIZATION (=selling state-owned services such as electricity and gas, so that they became private companies). She was seen as a strong and determined leader who would not change her mind easily and would not accept disagreement among her ministers. For this reason, she was sometimes called 'the Iron Lady'. Most people in the UK either admired her a lot or strongly disliked her, and now people disagree about what she achieved: some people say she 'made Britain great again', but others say that her policies caused high unemployment, encouraged people to be selfish, and helped to make rich people richer and poor people poorer. -> see also MINERS' STRIKE, MONETARISM, POLL TAX
Thatch·er·ism /'θætʃərɪzəm/ n [U] the general principles on which Margaret Thatcher's government was based when she was Prime Minister of the UK, especially her ideas about economic management
Thatch·er·ite /'θætʃəraɪt/ n someone who agrees with the ideas and policies of Margaret THATCHER, the former Prime Minister of the UK, especially her RIGHT-WING ideas about economic management: Opposition to a European currency is still strong among the Thatcherites in the party. —Thatcherite adj: a Thatcherite attitude to the Welfare State
thaw¹ /θɔː/ v 1 [I,T (OUT)] to change from a solid frozen state to become liquid, soft, or bendable, as a result of an increase in temperature to above freezing point: The snow is thawing. | Make sure the frozen chicken is properly thawed before you cook it. | (fig.) Come and thaw out in front of the fire! (=get warm) -> compare MELT 2 [it+] (of the weather) to become warm enough for snow and ice to melt: It often doesn't thaw until June in Siberia. 3 [I] to become friendlier, less severe or formal etc: After their third meeting she began to thaw.
thaw² n 1 a period of warm weather during which snow and ice melt 2 an improvement in relations after a period of unfriendliness, especially between countries
Thaw, John (1942-2002) a British actor known especially for playing police officers in television films. He is best known for playing the character of INSPECTOR MORSE.
the¹ /ðə before vowels ði; strong ði:/ definite article, determiner 1 (used for mentioning a particular thing, either because you already know which one is being talked about or because only one exists): We have a cat and two dogs; the cat (=our cat) is black and the dogs (=our dogs) are white. | Please take these letters to the post office. (=it is understood that you know which post office and where it is) (compare a/an) You can pay your phone bill at a post office. (=any post office) | The sun (=there is only one sun) is shining. | The sky is blue. | The Queen of Denmark (=Denmark has only one queen) | Another meeting will be held later in the year. | Who do you think will win the election? | It's the tallest building in the world. | I spoke to her on the telephone. | For our holiday we went to the South of France. | She sailed across the Atlantic in a small boat. 2 one's: She hit him on (=his) ear. | How's the (=your) arm today? | The (=my) car broke down again today. | (infml) Have you met the (=my) wife? 3 (used before an adjective to make it into a noun): How can we help the old and the poor? (=old people and poor people) | The English (=English people) drink a lot of beer. | You're asking me to do the impossible. (=something that is impossible) | The accused was/were brought into the court. 4 (used before a singular noun to make it general): The lion is a wild animal. (=lions are wild animals) | The computer has revolutionized office work. 5 (used before words for human activities, especially musical, but usually not including sports): He's studying the law. | I'm learning the piano. (=learning to play pianos) | She plays the violin. (compare She plays tennis.) 6 (used, often with strong pronunciation, for showing that the following noun is best, best-known, most approved, most important, most wanted etc): This is the life for me. (=this is what I enjoy doing most) | You can't be the Paul McCartney! 7 (used before names of measures) each: This cloth is sold by the metre. (=is measured in metres to calculate its price) | We're paid by the hour. | (especially BrE) These apples are 90p the dozen. (=you get 12 for 90p) 8 (used before a noun that stands for the activity connected with it): He took to the bottle. (=began drinking a lot of alcohol) | a campaign to bring back the electric chair (=the system of punishing people by death in an electric chair) 9 (used before the plural of 20, 30, 40 etc to show a period of ten years): In the 30s (=from 1930 to 1939) there was a lot of unemployment. 10 (used before a noun, especially in negatives, to show an amount or degree needed for a purpose) enough: I haven't the time to talk to you just now. | He didn't have the common sense to send for a doctor. 11 (used when describing someone or something strong expressions of strong feeling): He's stolen my parking space, the bastard. | This screw won't go in properly, the stupid thing | 'He's won a holiday in Hawaii.' 'The lucky devil!' 12 (used after how, what, where, who, and why expressions of strong feeling): What the hell are you doing here?
USAGE 1 The is not used with certain words, except when there is something else before or after the noun that tells us which one or what kind is meant. This is true of the following: a abstract nouns, such as music, history, time, beauty, work. Compare Life is difficult and The life of a