# be a thing

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/be-a-thing
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To exist, or to be available, widespread, possible, or a common practice.

## Examples

- I did not know that online grocery shopping was a thing.
- I was surprised to learn that people actually pay for virtual pets, but apparently that is a thing now.
- While I once considered the concept of remote work to be a temporary experiment, it has clearly become a thing that defines the modern professional landscape.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.