1. pron. (poss. its; pl. they)
1. the thing (or occas. the animal or child) previously named or in question (took a stone and threw it).
2 the person in question (Who is it? It is I; is it a boy or a girl?).
3 as the subject of an impersonal verb (it is raining; it is winter; it is Tuesday; it is two miles to Bath).
4 as a substitute for a deferred subject or object (it is intolerable, this delay; it is silly to talk like that; I take it that you agree).
5 as a substitute for a vague object (brazen it out; run for it!).
6 as the antecedent to a relative word (it was an owl I heard).
7 exactly what is needed (absolutely it).
8 the extreme limit of achievement.
9 colloq. sexual intercourse; sex appeal.
10 (in children's games) a player who has to perform a required feat, esp. to catch the others.
Phrases and idioms:
that's it colloq. that is:
1. what is required.
2 the difficulty.
3 the end, enough.
this is it colloq.
1. the expected event is at hand.
2 this is the difficulty.
Etymology: OE hit neut. of HE 2. n. colloq. Italian vermouth (gin and it).
Etymology: abbr.