(thanks, thanking, thanked)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You use thank you or, in more informal English, thanks to express your gratitude when someone does something for you or gives you what you want.
Thank you very much for your call...
Thanks for the information...
Thanks a lot, Suzie. You've been great.
CONVENTION [formulae]
2.
You use thank you or, in more informal English, thanks to politely accept or refuse something that has just been offered to you.
'You'd like a cup as well, would you, Mr Secombe?'-'Thank you, Jane, I'd love one.'...
'Would you like a cigarette?'-'No thank you.'...
CONVENTION [formulae]
3.
You use thank you or, in more informal English, thanks to politely acknowledge what someone has said to you, especially when they have answered your question or said something nice to you.
The policeman smiled at her. 'Pretty dog.'-'Oh well, thank you.'...
'It's great to see you.'-'Thanks. Same to you.'
CONVENTION [formulae]
4.
You use thank you or thank you very much in order to say firmly that you do not want someone's help or to tell them that you do not like the way that they are behaving towards you.
I can stir my own tea, thank you...
We know where we can get it, thank you very much.
CONVENTION [emphasis]
5.
When you thank someone for something, you express your gratitude to them for it.
I thanked them for their long and loyal service...
When the decision was read out Mrs Gardner thanked the judges.
VERB: V n for n, V n
6.
When you express your thanks to someone, you express your gratitude to them for something.
They accepted their certificates with words of thanks.
N-PLURAL
7.
8.
You say 'Thank God', 'Thank Goodness', or 'Thank heavens' when you are very relieved about something.
I was wrong, thank God...
Thank heavens we have you here.
PHRASE: oft PHR with cl, PHR that [feelings]
9.
If you say that you have someone to thank for something, you mean that you are grateful to them because they caused it to happen.
I have her to thank for my life...
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR for n
10.
If you say that something happens thanks to a particular person or thing, you mean that they are responsible for it happening or caused it to happen.
It is thanks to this committee that many new sponsors have come forward...
PHRASE: PHR n, usu PHR with cl, v-link PHR, PHR after v
11.
If you say that something happens no thanks to a particular person or thing, you mean that they did not help it to happen, or that it happened in spite of them.
It is no thanks to the Government that net assets did rise.
PHRASE: PHR n, usu PHR with cl, v-link PHR