this, that, and the other

alternative this, that, or the other · alternative this, that, and the other thing

1. idiomaticinformalParticular items belonging to a large, diverse set, but items of the general kind of item indicated.

   She meant to use the cumbrous machine to pick out this, that, and the other interesting person from the muddle of the world.

   1919, Virginia Woolf, chapter 6, in Night and Day

   2 more examples

   These returns exhibit a curious annual uniformity in results; the sort of uniformity which you find in the annual output of suicides in the world's capitals, and the proportions of deaths by this, that, and the other disease.

   1897, Mark Twain, chapter 57, in Following the Equator […] , New York: American Publishing Company

   Looking at his paintings, we sense the intense performance of making them, not as an Expressionistic process, but as a notational, seismographic record of the dodging feints his mind made in this, that and the other direction.

   2005 March 11, Roberta Smith, “Jean-Michel Basquiat: Collisions on Canvas That Still Make Noise”, in New York Times, retrieved 23 Apr 2013

   Synonyms: this, that, and the third

alternative this, that, or the other · alternative this, that, and the other thing

1. idiomaticinformalpluralplural onlyA wide range of actions, circumstances, characteristics, topics, or other items.

   "There's such an onslaught of people wanting information, people wanting this, that and the other," she says.

   2001 November 12, Andrea Sachs, “Out Of Africa”, in Time

   3 more examples

   A knowing old sheet-anchor-man, an unprincipled fellow, putting this, that, and the other together, ferrets out the mystery; [...]

   1850, Herman Melville, “Smuggling in a Man-of-War”, in White Jacket; or, The World in a Man-of-War, volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 285

   Very much admired, indeed, the young woman was. What with her dress; what with the air and sun; what with being made so much of; what with this, that, and the other; her merits really attracted general notice.

   1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, “Intelligence”, in The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 473

   Anyway, we were sitting here doing this, that, and the other, and she said she positively was not going to do the other any more with Carstairs sneering at her while she did it.

   1943, Norbert Davis, Sally's in the Alley

   Synonyms: this, that, and the third