thanks

noun

1. an acknowledgment of appreciation (Freq. 7)

• Hypernyms: ↑acknowledgment, ↑acknowledgement

• Hyponyms: ↑appreciation, ↑thank you, ↑bow, ↑curtain call

2. with the help of or owing to (Freq. 2)

-

thanks to hard work it was a great success

• Hypernyms: ↑aid, ↑assist, ↑assistance, ↑help

* * *

[THangks]

plural n. an expression of gratitude

festivals were held to give thanks for the harvest | a letter of thanks

■ a feeling of gratitude

they expressed their thanks and wished her well

■ another way of saying thank you

thanks for being so helpful | many thanks

- no thanks to

- thanks a million

- thanks to

Origin:

Old English thancas, plural of thanc ‘(kindly) thought, gratitude’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dank and German Dank, also to think

* * *

/ˈθæŋks/ noun [plural]

1 : a good feeling that you have towards someone who has helped you, given something to you, etc.

I brought you a gift as a way of showing my thanks for all you've done.

I want express my thanks [=gratitude] (to you) for your kindness and generosity.

2 : something done or said to express thanks

A simple bouquet of flowers can be a nice way to say thanks.

We should give thanks (to God) for all the good things in our lives.

3

— used as a less formal way to say “thank you”

“Here's your change.” “Thanks.” “You're welcome.”

Thanks! I appreciate it.

“How's your mother doing?” “She's doing well, thanks.” [=thank you for asking]

— often + for

Thanks for coming.

Thanks so much for your kind letter. = Many thanks for the kind letter.

4

— used like “thank you” as a polite way of accepting or refusing an offer

“Do you want another one?” “Thanks.” [=yes, please]

“Do you want another one?” “Yes, thanks.” [=yes, please]

“Do you want another one?” “No, thanks.”

“Can I help you find something?” “No thanks, I'm just looking.”

“Would you like a ride?” “Thanks, but no thanks. I'll walk.”

no thanks to

: without the help of (someone or something) : despite (someone or something)

The vote passed, no thanks to the mayor. [=the vote passed even though the mayor did not help or want it to pass]

owe a debt of thanks to — see ↑debt

thanks a bunch/lot/million

informal : thank you very much

Wow, this is great! Thanks a million!

— often used in an ironic way to say that you are not pleased that someone has done or said something

“I'm boring? Thanks a lot!”

Thanks a million for leaving the door open. There are flies everywhere now.

thanks to

: with the help of (someone or something) : because of (someone or something)

I'm a lot happier these days thanks to my new girlfriend.

Thanks to a new technique, patients typically recover from the surgery in only a few days.

— often used in an ironic way

Thanks to you we have to do the whole thing over again.

* * *

thanks exclamation, noun [θæŋks] [θæŋks]

exclamation

see also ↑thank you

1. used to show that you are grateful to sb for sth they have done

•

\thanks (for doing sth)

Thanks for lending me the money.

•

\thanks (for sth) Many thanks

for your support.

•

‘How are you?’ ‘Fine, thanks

(= thanks for asking)

.’

2. a polite way of accepting sth that sb has offered you

•

‘Would you like a coffee?’ ‘Oh, thanks.’

•

‘Here's the change.’ ‘

Thanks very much

.’

•

‘Do you want to come with us?’ ‘I'd love to, thanks.’

3. no thanks a polite way of refusing sth that sb has offered you

•

‘Would you like some more?’ ‘No thanks.’

 

Word Origin:

Old English thancas, plural of thanc ‘(kindly) thought, gratitude’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dank and German Dank, also to ↑think.

Idioms: ↑no thanks to somebody ▪ ↑thanks a lot ▪ ↑thanks to somebody

 

noun plural \thanks (to sb) (for sth)

words or actions that show that you are grateful to sb for sth

Syn: ↑gratitude

•

How can I ever express my thanks to you for all you've done?

•

Thanks are due to all those who worked so hard for so many months.

•

She murmured her thanks.

•

We gave thanks to God for all our blessings.

see also ↑vote of thanks

 

Word Origin:

[thanks] Old English thancas, plural of thanc ‘(kindly) thought, gratitude’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dank and German Dank, also to ↑think.  

Example Bank:

•

He gave thanks to God for the safe return of his son.

•

He got a bottle of whisky in thanks for his cooperation.

•

I owe you my thanks.

•

I said thanks and put the phone down.

•

I'd like to say a word of thanks to our hosts.

•

Many thanks for the flowers.

•

Please accept my personal thanks.

•

She smiled her thanks as the car drove off.

•

Special thanks to all of you who supported our fund-raising campaign.

•

Thanks go to Claire Potter for making the hall available to us.

•

The chairperson proposed a vote of thanks to the volunteers.

•

Their generosity deserves our grateful thanks.

•

We were all pulled out alive, thanks be to God.

•

We would like to express our warmest thanks for all you've done.

•

You'll get little thanks from him for all your trouble.

•

How can I ever express my thanks to you for all you've done?