that's

1.0

A short form of 'that is' or 'that has' used in speaking and writing

other
/ðæts/

Informal

: eso es

That's a great idea!

Examples

That's been the rule here for many years.
That's the best solution I've heard so far.
That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw the results.
If that's your final answer, I'll write it down.
I love the new cafe; that's my favorite place!
That's how we will complete the project on time.
That's what everyone was talking about at the meeting.

Idioms

that's that

Informal

37 5.1

A final decision that cannot be changed or discussed

that's all she wrote

Informal

1 9.2

The end when nothing more can be said or done

that's the ticket

Archaic

1 8.2

A good idea or the right thing to do

that's what she said

NSFW

1 9.9

A joke phrase people say after someone says something that can sound sexual

that's saying something

Informal

7.7

Shows that what was said is especially impressive or surprising

that's the bunny

9.9

The main point people are avoiding in a discussion

that's what your mom said

Offensive

9.9

A joke reply that mentions someone's mother to tease them about sex

that's your lot

8.9

This is all you get

Surface Forms

that's main

Morphology

that's = that + is (transparent) = that + is + 's

The form is a direct contraction of 'that is' (and optionally 'that has'), so the composition is transparently derived though learners must recognize the contracted form and its ambiguity.

Etymology

That's is a short form of 'that is' or 'that has', made by joining the two words and using an apostrophe for the missing letters. A helpful way to remember it is to think of it's — that's is a quick, informal way to say 'that is' when you point to something, or 'that has' when you mean something happened.