Meaning & use
thing or two
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
A small amount of useful knowledge or experience about something.
Grammar: Usually appears in the pattern 'know a thing or two about something' or 'learn a thing or two'.
Patterns
- know a thing or two about something
- learn a thing or two
My grandfather knows a thing or two about fixing old cars.
She could teach you a thing or two about cooking on a budget.
After working there for ten years, he's learned a thing or two about customer service.
Common combinations
- know a thing or two
- If you want advice on gardening, ask Maria—she knows a thing or two.
- learn a thing or two
- You might learn a thing or two if you listen carefully.
- teach someone a thing or two
- The young player taught the veteran a thing or two about speed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- know-how
- Know-how is a noun for practical skill; 'a thing or two' is a phrase used after verbs like know or learn, not as a standalone noun.
- a trick or two
- Similar meaning, but 'a trick or two' often suggests clever methods rather than general knowledge.
Commonly confused: thing or two or thing or two things?
thing or two vs thing or two things
Do not add 'things' after 'two'; the fixed phrase is 'a thing or two'.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence using 'a thing or two'.
Choose one answer.
The phrase is followed by 'about' when you mention the subject: 'know a thing or two about computers'. The other prepositions do not fit this fixed expression.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thing or two”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.