one of those things
noun phrase
informal
—used to refer to a bad or unfortunate experience that happened and to say that such experiences can happen to anyone
I missed the train and had to take a later one. It was just one of those things, I guess.
Examples of one of those things in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Turmeric is one of those things that leaves a hefty stain on hard surfaces and clothes.
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Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 8 Apr. 2026
Cancer is one of those things that, once someone in a family is diagnosed, everyone else should be extra vigilant.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s just one of those things that pigeonhole comics.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
Working on Centroeuropa every day was one of those things.
—Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for one of those things
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Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 8 Apr. 2026
Cancer is one of those things that, once someone in a family is diagnosed, everyone else should be extra vigilant.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Mar. 2026
That’s just one of those things that pigeonhole comics.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026
Working on Centroeuropa every day was one of those things.
—Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for one of those things
Cite this Entry
“One of those things.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one%20of%20those%20things. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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