The word thing can mean many different… um… things. These meanings depending on time, situation, intonation of voice, your relationship with your audience and your intent.
For example, let’s say you are at a bar in America. As you sit down, your new English-speaking friend asks, “What’s your thing?”
Huh? What does your friend mean? What is this “thing”?
It all depends on many –– say it again! –– things. It’s important to understand the context.
Is this a business meeting? If so, then thing could mean, “I want to know what differentiates your company from other companies?”
Are you a student? If so, your new friend could mean “What subject are you studying?”
Are you meeting for sciociable conversation? If so, your new friend may be asking you, “What would you like to drink?”
If it is a date, I (and probably your date) will leave it up to you to decide what thing might mean!
The upshot: Concerning the word thing, an average English dictionary will have 20 or so definitions listed. The English language is highly flexible and complex. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines 600,000 words using more than 3 million quotations to show different meanings at different times and places for the words being defined.
But please don’t worry. If you are just starting out in English, “things will work out.”
Slang meaning the lesson or what the examples show.
Your English will improve!
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