English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook Vocabulary Reference and Practice 3rd Edition

has got a thing about mice. 
[she either really likes or dislikes them]
Don’t 
make such a big thing of it! 
[Don’t make so much fuss about it!]
There 
wasn’t a thing we could do about it. 
[a thing = anything]
For one thing, I haven’t got time. For another thing, I can’t afford it. 
[Firstly …, secondly …]
The thing is, I have to take my car for a service tomorrow morning. 
[used to introduce a topic or a 
problem, or to provide an explanation]
As things are at present, … 
[as the situation is]
I don’t 
get what you’re saying. 
[understand]
We must 
get that parcel in the post today. 
[send]
She had big plans to travel the world but she just never 
got it together. 
[took positive action or 
organised herself]
Jill will 
get things sorted (out) today. 
[organise things so that the problem is solved]
I hope I can 
get her to myself this evening. 
[be alone with her]
When you can’t think of the word
When we can’t remember a word or name, we often replace it with a vague word.
For objects: 
thingy, thingummy 
/ˈθɪŋəmi/
,
 thingumijig 
/ˈθɪŋəmədʒɪg/
,
 thingamibob 
/ˈθɪŋəməbɒb/
,
 
whatsit, whatchamacallit 
/ˈwɒtʃəməˌkɔːlɪt/
,
 whatnot
Have you seen the 
thingy we use for keeping the door open?
For people: 
whatsisname 
/ˈwɒtsɪzneɪm/
(for a man); 
whatsername 
/ˈwɒtsəneɪm/
(for a woman)
Did you see 
whatsisname today?
Note that these words can be written in different ways. It is also possible to use 
thingy for either a 
man or a woman: I was talking to