ENGLISH
REFERENCE

the important thing

idiom
Meaning

you use this to point out the most necessary or meaningful part of a situation.


Examples
SIMPLE

You lost the game, but the important thing is that you tried.

CONTEXTUAL

We missed our train and arrived late, but the important thing is that we are all safe.

COMPLEX

Although the project faced numerous setbacks and budget cuts, the important thing remains that the team successfully delivered the final product on time.

Last updated April 22, 2026