it

views updated Jun 08 2018

it • pron. [third person sing.] 1. used to refer to a thing previously mentioned or easily identified: a room with two beds in it this approach is refreshing because it breaks down barriers. ∎  referring to an animal or child of unspecified sex: she was holding the baby, cradling it and smiling into its face. ∎  referring to a fact or situation previously mentioned, known, or happening: stop it, you're hurting me.2. used to identify a person: it's me it's a boy!3. used in the normal subject position in statements about time, distance, or weather: it's half past five it was two miles to the island it is raining.4. used in the normal subject or object position when a more specific subject or object is given later in the sentence: it is impossible to assess the problem she found it interesting to learn about their strategy.5. used to emphasize a following part of a sentence: it is the child who is the victim.6. the situation or circumstances; things in general: no one can stay here—it's too dangerous now he would like to see you right away if it's convenient.7. exactly what is needed or desired: they thought they were it you've either got it or you haven't.8. (usu. “it”) inf. sex appeal: he's still got “it.” ∎  sexual intercourse.9. (usu. “it”) (in children's games) the player who has to catch the others.PHRASES: at it see at1 .that's it1. that is the main point or difficulty: “Is she going?” “That's just it—she can't make up her mind.”2. that is enough or the end: okay, that's it, you've cried long enough.this is it1. the expected event is about to happen: this is it—the big sale.2. this is enough or the end: this is it, I'm going.3. this is the main point or difficulty.

it

views updated May 29 2018

it 3rd sg. n. pers. pron. OE. hit = (M)Du. het it, Goth. hita this, f. Gmc. dem. stem *χi- (cf. HE1). The parallel stem *i- is the base of OS. it, OHG. iz (G. es). Loss of initial h took place at first in unstressed positions, but as early as 1200 it is found in stressed positions. Reduction to t in enclitic position (e.g. is't for is it) is equally early; in proclitic position (e.g. 'tis) it is common from XVI. The orig. g. and d. were HIS, HIM; the present g. is ITS.
Hence itself OE. hit self; in XVII–XVIII sometimes written its self.

It

views updated Jun 27 2018

It ★★½ 1927

The film that established Bow as a prominent screen siren. Betty Lou (Bow) is a saucy lingerie sales clerk who sets her sights on department store owner Cyrus (Moreno), despite the fact that he has a fiancee. Adapted by Elinor Glyn from her own story; Glyn also makes an appearance. 71m/B VHS, DVD . Clara Bow, Antonio Moreno, Jacqueline Gadsdon, William Austin, Gary Cooper, Julia Swayne Gordon; D: Clarence Badger, Josef von Sternberg; W: Hope Loring, Louis D. Lighton; C: Kinley Martin. Natl. Film Reg. ‘01.

it

views updated May 29 2018

it sex appeal; the term is first recorded of the mysterious ‘Mrs Bathurst’ in Kipling's Traffics and Discoveries (1904). The usage was reinforced by the romantic novelist Elinor Glyn in her novel It (1927).

The American actress Clara Bow (1905–65), who starred in the film of Glyn's novel, was subsequently known as the It Girl. The term came to be used for an actress or model, regarded as vivacious and outgoing, and having particular sex appeal; in later use, it also denotes a young woman typifying the latest fashion and social success.

IT

views updated Jun 27 2018

IT • abbr. information technology.

IT

views updated May 29 2018

IT Abbrev. for information technology.