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Glite Dictionary
here's the thing

here's the thing

43 7.2
A phrase that introduces the most important point in a discussion
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : mira
  • But here's the thing: I never realized that the problem was them, not me.
  • Well, Here's the thing
  • You know, Here's the thing
  • Okay, Here's the thing

Examples

  • And here's the thing: this, and slight variations on it, have been said essentially forever.

    Blog text (2)

  • But here's the thing: I'm not sure fans should be celebrating quite yet.

    Blog text (30)

  • Yeah, about that, so here's the thing.

    12 Days of Christmas (2020)

  • Well, you see, here's the thing.

    One of These Days (2021)

  • Dear Chicago, I know I was hard on you before, but here's the thing.

    Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016)

  • But here's the thing though, you really think you should be eating that?

    Stuber (2019)

  • But here's the thing: Ryan served on that same debt commission and voted AGAINST it.

    Blog text (2)

  • But here's the thing: what we think is BIG news, they really don't.

    Blog text (30)

  • But here's the thing: I'm a Democrat, and some of my friends are Republicans.

    Blog text (22)

  • To understand my perspective, here's the thing: communication is key.

Synonyms

basically
vshere's the thing
  • Informal
∞ 1.0

To say the main or most important point

introduces the central issue when explaining or defending a point
you know what
vshere's the thing
  • Informal
797 7.5

To say something new or surprising to get someone's attention

introduces the most important point when explaining or justifying something
namely
vshere's the thing
167 3.6

To give one or more examples of something just mentioned

points to the central issue or reason rather than listing specifics
the thing is
vshere's the thing
  • Informal
166 3.5

To say an important fact or reason when explaining something

emphasizes the main issue when explaining or justifying
in short
vshere's the thing
115 2.8

To give only the main facts

focuses on the key point and its reason rather than mere brevity
in essence
vshere's the thing
97 5.3

Used to say the main point while ignoring small details

brings up the key issue when explaining or giving reasons
in a nutshell
vshere's the thing
  • Informal
41 3.4

To say something briefly and clearly

introduces the central issue rather than just shortening an explanation
that is to say
vshere's the thing
37 3.5

To say something more clearly

raises the most important issue when explaining or justifying something
i.e.
vshere's the thing
  • Formal
3.6

To explain something just mentioned more clearly, giving the exact meaning

brings up the main issue instead of restating or clarifying previous words

Surface Forms

here's the thing main

Morphology

here's + the + thing

This expression is a straightforward contraction of 'here is the thing' and literally signals presentation of the important point; the pragmatic function (introducing a key issue or explanation) follows directly from the constituents. As a common discourse marker with a transparent referential structure, a B1 learner who knows 'here', 'is', 'the' and 'thing' should be able to infer its basic meaning.

Etymology

Here's the thing comes from the simple image of someone pointing at an object and saying the thing to show it is the most important part. So people now use it 'to point to the main idea' or the 'key issue' in a talk.