From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthisthis1 /ðɪs/ ●●● S1 W1 determiner, pronoun (plural these /ðiːz/) 1 XXused to refer to a person, thing, idea etc that has just been mentioned or to something that has just happened We must make sure this doesn’t happen again. Is there any way of solving these problems? If young Daly continues to improve at this rate, he’ll soon be in the A Team. This will be discussed in the next chapter. This boyfriend of yours – how old is he?2 used to talk about the present time or a time that is close to the present There will be another meeting later this week. This has been the worst year of my life. I thought he would have been back before this. We’ll be seeing Malcolm this Friday (=on Friday of the present week). I’m sorry I was late this morning (=today in the morning). Everyone seems to be in a hurry these days (=at the present period). I want to see you in my office this minute (=immediately).3 used to talk about the present situation I hate this cold damp weather. Things have never been as bad as this before.SPOKEN PHRASES4 NEARSOONused to talk about a thing or person that is near you, the thing you are holding, or the place where you are These are your gloves, aren’t they? You have to park on this side of the road. I can’t bear the atmosphere in this house much longer.5 used to refer to something that you are going to say or that is just about to happen Now, listen to this. Wait till you hear this joke. This is going to surprise you.6 XXused in stories, jokes etc when you mention a person or thing for the first time I met this really weird guy last night. Suddenly, there was this tremendous bang.7 a) MEETused to introduce someone to someone else Sam, this is my sister, Liz. b) TCTused to give your name when you are speaking on the telephone ‘Can I speak to Joan, please?’ ‘This is Joan speaking.’8 → this, that, and the other9 → what’s (all) this?10 → this is it
Examples from the Corpus
this• When am I going to meet this boyfriend of yours?• In this chapter of the book, we look at a number of new economic theories.• Then this girl came up and kissed him on the lips.• Add this mixture to the cranberry sauce.• Steve's going to Miami this Thursday.• The band plans to go on tour this year.this minute• Leslie knew dying was going on out there this minute.• Well she would put that right now, this minute!• He was also, if only for this minute, hers.• If he was here this minute I would feel like killing him.• Horace is right this minute painting the kitchen.• If John walked through the door this minute, she wondered if she would be able to resist taking him back.• I see, on re-reading this minute, that I promised further sections on the weekend and holidays.• There is again something about the tone of this minute that strikes me.thisthis2 ●●● S1 adverb [+adj/adverb] 1 spokenXX used to say how big, how much etc, when you are showing the size, amount etc with your hands The table’s about this high and this wide. You need to cut about this much off the end of the pipe.2 [usually in questions and negatives] spoken as good, bad, much etc as in the present situation I hadn’t realised that things had got this bad. I’ve never had this much money before.Origin this1 Old English thes, this 