The Village Idiom

the thing of it

The idiom "the thing of it" is used to express the difficulty or complexity of a situation or problem. It emphasizes the challenging aspect of a particular matter.

Filed under T

In a sentence

  • She always complains about her job, but the thing of it is, she hasn't made any effort to find a new one.
  • The thing of it is, the more you practice, the better you'll get at it.
  • He's a talented musician, but the thing of it is, he lacks the confidence to perform in front of an audience.

Where it comes from and how it is used

"The thing is" is another idiom that is closely related to "the thing of it." This phrase is commonly used in conversations to introduce a statement or explanation about a specific aspect or factor that is considered important or relevant to the topic at hand. It is often used to emphasize a particular point or to provide clarity on a particular issue. For example, someone might say, "The thing is, we need to finish this project by tomorrow," to highlight the urgency or importance of completing the task.

"That's the thing" is yet another related idiom that is often used in conversations. This phrase is used to express agreement or understanding of a particular point or situation. It is often used to highlight a key aspect or factor that is being discussed or to explain why something is the way it is. For instance, if someone says, "I can't believe she didn't invite me to the party," another person might respond, "That's the thing, she thought you were already busy that night," to clarify the misunderstanding.

"What of it" is a related idiom that is used to express indifference or dismissal towards a particular matter or situation. It is often used to downplay the significance or importance of something. For example, if someone says, "I heard that you failed your test," another person might respond, "So what of it? It's just one test," to indicate that they do not consider the failure to be a big deal.

"Out of fix" is another idiom that is related to "the thing of it." This phrase is used to describe a situation or problem that is not working correctly or that is causing trouble or inconvenience. It is often used to emphasize that something needs to be fixed or resolved. For instance, if someone says, "My computer is completely out of fix," they are indicating that their computer is not functioning properly and needs to be repaired.

The idiom "the thing of it" is widely recognized and used in American English. It is an idiomatic expression that is employed to refer to a specific aspect or factor that is considered important or significant in a given situation. Its flexible usage allows individuals to emphasize or focus on a particular aspect in conversations or informal discussions. Additionally, related idioms such as "the thing is," "that's the thing," "what of it," and "out of fix" are also commonly used in everyday conversations to provide further clarity, agreement, indifference or highlight problems or inconveniences.

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