a thing or two

a thing or two

1. An unspecified amount

   What are you doing today?
   —I have a thing or two to take care of.

2. (meiosis) A considerable amount; a lot.

   He's a good mechanic, and surely knows a thing or two about car engines.

   I could tell you a thing or two about that new boyfriend of yours.

   • 2021 September 22, Stephen Roberts, “The writings on the wall...”, in RAIL, number 940, page 75:

     He [Winston Churchill] was born at Blenheim Palace, that Oxfordshire pile built for his ancestor John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, who also knew a thing or two about warfare.

   • 2022 November 16, Christian Wolmar, “Can Merriman use his rail knowledge to make a difference?”, in RAIL, number 970, page 44:

     The good news is that the new Rail Minister is Huw Merriman, former Chairman of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee, which means he knows a thing or two about the railways.

• (unspecified amount): this and that
• (a lot): a lot, loads, tons, a great deal

• “a thing or two”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.