1 things 财产；（个人的）所有物，用具；成套物品

Let me help you clear away the tea things (= cups, plates, etc. that are used for having tea).

我来帮你收拾茶具。

2 the real thing 真事；真品，非赝品

The fire alarm goes off accidentally so often that when it's the real thing (= when it really does happen) nobody will take any notice.

火灾报警器常常瞎响，到时候真的着火时发警报也没有人会注意了。

3 a thing or two 一些事情；些许知识，一星半点

She thinks she knows everything about raising children, but I could tell her a thing or two (= some information she does not know).

她觉得自己对于养育孩子样样精通，不过我倒可以让她见识一二。

4 a close/near thing 几乎发生的事

The car just missed the child but it was a very close thing.

汽车差点撞着小孩，就差那么一点点。

5 the thing is 问题是；要紧的是

The thing is, my parents like me to be home by ten o'clock.

问题是，我父母想要我10点前回家。