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Glite Dictionary
to be a thing

to be a thing

64 6.6
To become popular or common, like a new fashion
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : 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.

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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
750 1.6

To become known by many people

focuses on becoming popular or widely recognized, not merely distribution
to catch on
vsto be a thing
60 3.2

To become popular with many people

is broader, covering general recognition beyond fashion or use
to trend
vsto be a thing
  • Texting
53 4.2

To become popular online for a short time

is broader, meaning general popularity rather than brief online buzz
to become popular
vsto be a thing
22 2.4

Many people start to like or use something

is about becoming widely recognized as a trend or common phenomenon
to come in
vsto be a thing
16 2.8

To become fashionable or popular

is used for general popularity rather than only fashion
to gain traction
vsto be a thing
9 4.2

Begin to be accepted or used by many people

is about reaching broad recognition rather than gradual initial growth

Antonyms

unpopular
121 2.1

Most people do not like someone or something

How Popular

to be a thing
  • Informal
64 6.6
to catch on
60 3.2
to be known as
∞ 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'.