Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to be a thing

to be a thing

19 6.6
To become popular or common, like a new fashion
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
: estar de moda
  • You know, this sounds corny, but group therapy is a thing, right?

So I know that soap cutting is a thing on YouTube.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • I think NFTS will absolutely still be a thing five years from now.

  • I do believe that people need to understand narcissism is a thing so they don't just minimize it.

    DoctorRamani

  • Why not go, hey, I understand that this is going to be a thing that forms me as a human.

  • Because we have thousands of years of history of religion being a thing that keeps people going.

  • I think it's just been a thing that slowly unfolded.

    Film Courage

  • Virtual reality experiences are becoming a thing at music festivals all over the world.

  • Sustainable fashion is increasingly a thing as more people become aware of environmental issues.

  • In recent years, plant-based diets have become a thing among health-conscious consumers.

Synonyms

to spread
vsto be a thing
716 1.6

To become known by many people

focuses on becoming popular or widely recognized, not merely distribution
to become popular
vsto be a thing
78 2.4

Many people start to like or use something

is about becoming widely recognized as a trend or common phenomenon
to trend
vsto be a thing
  • Texting
59 4.2

To become popular online for a short time

is broader, meaning general popularity rather than brief online buzz
to catch on
vsto be a thing
55 3.2

To become popular with many people

is broader, covering general recognition beyond fashion or use
to gain traction
vsto be a thing
18 4.2

Begin to be accepted or used by many people

is about reaching broad recognition rather than gradual initial growth
to come in
vsto be a thing
6 2.8

To become fashionable or popular

is used for general popularity rather than only fashion

Antonyms

unpopular
123 2.1

Most people do not like someone or something

How Popular

to be a thing
  • Informal
19 6.6
to catch on
55 3.2
to be known as
392 1.4

Surface Forms

be a thing infinitive
was a thing past
been a thing past participle
being a thing present participle
is a thing third person singular

Morphology

be + a + thing

The literal parts 'be' (to exist/constitute) + 'thing' (an entity/phenomenon) allow a learner to infer that something 'is a thing' meaning it exists or is recognized, but the specific pragmatic sense 'become popular/common' is a colloquial extension that is not fully predictable from the constituents alone. Because the core notion of existence is transparent but the popularity/trend nuance requires pragmatic or cultural knowledge, this is best judged semi-transparent.

Etymology

The phrase be a thing comes from imagining a new idea as a real object people can point to: when a style or gadget is in every shop window and everyone talks about it, it is a thing. So saying something be a thing means it has become 'popular' or 'common'.