I. this 1 S1 W1 /ðɪs/ BrE AmE determiner , pronoun ( plural these /ðiːz/)
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: thes , this ]
1 . used to refer to a person, thing, idea etc that has just been mentioned or to something that has just happened:
We must make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Is there any way of solving these problems?
If young Daly continues to improve at this rate, he’ll soon be in the A Team.
This will be discussed in the next chapter.
This boyfriend of yours – how old is he?
2 . used to talk about the present time or a time that is close to the present:
There will be another meeting later this week.
This has been the worst year of my life.
I thought he would have been back before this.
We’ll be seeing Malcolm this Friday (=on Friday of the present week) .
I’m sorry I was late this morning (=today in the morning) .
Everyone seems to be in a hurry these days (=at the present period) .
I want to see you in my office this minute (=immediately) .
3 . used to talk about the present situation:
I hate this cold damp weather.
Things have never been as bad as this before.
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SPOKEN PHRASES
4 . used to talk about a thing or person that is near you, the thing you are holding, or the place where you are:
These are your gloves, aren’t they?
You have to park on this side of the road.
I can’t bear the atmosphere in this house much longer.
5 . used to refer to something that you are going to say or that is just about to happen:
Now, listen to this.
Wait till you hear this joke.
This is going to surprise you.
6 . used in stories, jokes etc when you mention a person or thing for the first time:
I met this really weird guy last night.
Suddenly, there was this tremendous bang.
7 .
a) used to introduce someone to someone else:
Sam, this is my sister, Liz.
b) used to give your name when you are speaking on the telephone:
‘Can I speak to Joan, please?’ ‘This is Joan speaking.’
8 . this, that and the other ( also this and that ) various different things, subjects etc:
‘What have you two been gossiping about all evening?’ ‘Oh this, that, and the other.’
9 . what’s (all) this? used to ask what is happening, what people are saying, what someone’s problem is etc:
What’s this? Crying again?
What’s all this about a ghost?
10 . this is it used to say that something you expected to happen is actually going to happen:
This is it, boys, the moment we’ve been waiting for.
II. this 2 BrE AmE adverb [+ adjective/adverb]
1 . spoken used to say how big, how much etc, when you are showing the size, amount etc with your hands:
The table’s about this high and this wide.
You need to cut about this much off the end of the pipe.
2 . [usually in questions and negatives] spoken as good, bad, much etc as in the present situation:
I hadn’t realised that things had got this bad.
I’ve never had this much money before.