something

phrases

• be really/quite something

  spoken
  to be very impressive

  You should see the summer exhibition – it's quite something!

  We took the new super-fast train, and that was really something.

  What Noreen's done with the business is quite something.

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• be something of a

  1. 1

     used for emphasizing that someone is fairly good at something or has a fairly good knowledge of something

     My grandmother was something of a poet.

     Jill considers herself to be something of an environmentalist.

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  2. 2

     used for showing that you are not being very definite in the way that you are describing someone or something

     Woods's performance in the tournament was something of a disappointment.

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• do something

  to take action in order to deal with a situation

  Don't just stand there – do something!

  I wish I could have done something to help those poor children.

  do something about:

  Why doesn't the government do something about the rising fuel prices?

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• be/have something to do with something

  used for saying that something is related to something else, especially when you do not know or do not give the exact details

  I can't always open my emails – it has something to do with the type of attachment they come with.

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• make something of yourself

  informal
  to become successful through your own efforts

  I wanted to prove to my family that I could make something of myself.

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• ...or something (like that/of the sort)

  used for referring to any of a group of things or possibilities without being specific

  We should at least call or something and make sure she's all right.

  He works as an investment banker or something like that.

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• something for nothing

  informal
  if someone gets something for nothing, they get what they want without any payment, work, or effort

  'Young people these days all want something for nothing', he said.

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• that's saying something

  mainly spoken
  used for emphasizing that what you have said is more extreme than it seems

  Chloe is even more beautiful than her sister, and that's saying something.

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• that's something

  spoken
  used for saying that there is one fact that you are pleased about in a situation that is not satisfactory

  She may not be the best worker, but she always tries hard, and that's something.

  'I've only enough money for basic necessities.' 'Well, that's something.'

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• there is something about

  used for saying that someone or something has a particular quality but you are not certain what it is

  There was something about his face that reminded me of my uncle.

  There's something about Christmas that makes everyone behave like children.

  there is something strange/peculiar/funny etc about:

  There was something rather strange about the way he talked.

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• there is something in something

  used for saying that there are true facts or important ideas in what someone says

  A lot of people support Katz's theory, so there must be something in it.

  I think there may be something in his story – anyway, I'll question him further.

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