this and that

Idioms  

1. Also, this, that, and the other. Various miscellaneous items, one thing and another, as in He said this and that about the budget, but nothing new or of great substance, or We spent all evening chatting about this, that, and the other. The first idiom was first recorded in 1581; the variant dates from the early 1900s.

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Example Sentences

"For 14 years, people have been holding us to this and that letter proves to us that people know something," she said.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Between this and that, here and there, the Lightning might weigh as much as 1,000 pounds less with Donuts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

"The oil industry has not provided a particularly convincing explanation for this, and that is why we will take action."

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

Vic told me all this, and that he had just gone to visit them, had just given them $600, to at least get them paid up through the end of the month.

From Slate • Oct. 27, 2025

‘I have been too busy with this and that to heed all the crying and shouting,’ she answered.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

• odds and ends