Have a thing with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Have a thing with" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a romantic or sexual relationship, often implying a casual or informal connection between two people. Example: "They've been having a thing with each other for a few months now, but they haven't defined their relationship yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

I have a thing with women who try too hard to be funny, but Kathy wasn't like that at all.

The Guardian

"We have a thing with the coaching staff where we say, 'Let's go out and see what the boys have in store for us tonight,"' said the 48-year-old Showalter, who is in his second season with the team.

The New York Times - Sports

"I share an office – I've been writing with a couple of mates of mine and it's a lot of fun, but I realised I didn't like their stuff coming on to my half of the desk… I have a thing with pillows.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He told me: "I have a thing with acceptable loss where I say, what loss is acceptable?

BBC

I have a thing with numbers, which is really common".

Huffington Post

Thank you for bringing it up, because we have a thing with a thing with a thing with a thing.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

A year ago you had a thing with Claire Underwood, who is now the second lady of the United States.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

She even had a thing with Tom Cruise back in the '80s before he became a Scientologist.

The New York Times

She had a thing with Frank Zappa, whenever he was in London.

The Guardian - Music

Meanwhile Claire has made the first lady worry that White House staffer Christina Gallagher – who, as you remember, had a thing with the now-deceased congressman Peter Russo in season one – may be having a thing with her new boss, President Walker.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

She had a thing with sevens: married on the 7th of June, George arrested again in 1977, her daughter Deana dead, of cancer, on the 7th of March.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context when using this phrase. It's appropriate for informal conversations or writing, but might not be suitable for formal or professional settings.

Common error

Avoid using "Have a thing with" in formal writing. Opt for phrases like "be romantically involved with" or "be in a relationship with" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Have a thing with" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating a romantic or sexual involvement, or a strong liking/obsession. Ludwig AI confirms its common use. Examples illustrate its application in describing relationships and preferences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Have a thing with" is an informal phrase used to describe a casual romantic or sexual relationship, or a strong liking or obsession. Ludwig AI shows it’s grammatically correct, though more common in informal contexts like news and media, and wiki sources. When writing, consider your audience: more formal settings might require alternatives like "be romantically involved with" or "be attracted to". Remember that overuse in formal writing can be a common error.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Be seeing someone

Informal way to describe a romantic relationship.

Be romantically involved with

More formal and explicitly describes a romantic connection.

Be in a relationship with

Broader term, not necessarily romantic, but indicates a connection.

Be attracted to

Focuses on the attraction aspect, can be initial stage.

Go out with

A general way to say you are dating someone.

Date

A more modern, short term for going out with someone.

Be keen on

British English, similar to 'be attracted to'.

Have a soft spot for

Indicates a fondness or liking, not necessarily romantic.

Have an affair with

Implies secrecy and infidelity.

Be fond of

Indicates a feeling of affection or liking.

FAQs

What does "Have a thing with" mean?

It typically means to be romantically or sexually involved with someone, often in a casual or undefined way. It can also mean to have a particular liking or obsession with something.

What can I say instead of "Have a thing with"?

You can use alternatives like "be romantically involved with", "be seeing someone", or "be attracted to" depending on the context.

Is "Have a thing with" formal or informal?

It's generally considered informal. For formal settings, it's better to use more precise language such as "be in a relationship with" or "be romantically linked to".

How do I use "Have a thing with" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a romantic connection (e.g., "They "are seeing each other"") or an obsession (e.g., "He "is obsessed with" old cars").