it

/It/ pronoun (used as subject or object)

1 used to talk about the thing, situation, idea etc that has already been mentioned or that the person you are talking to already knows about: “What should I do with the key?” “Oh just leave it on the table.” | There were people crying, buildings on fire. It was terrible! | She complained about the food so much that I was sorry I mentioned it in the end.

2 the situation that someone is in now: I can't stand it any longer. I'm resigning. | How's it going Bob? I haven't seen you for ages. | And the worst of it is the car isn't even paid for yet.

3 used as the subject or object of a verb when the real subject or object is later in the sentence: It makes me sick the way she thinks everyone's in love with her. | What's it like being a sailor? | Apparently it's cheaper to fly than go by train. | It's a pity you couldn't come.

4 used with the verb `be' to make statements about the weather, the time, distances etc: It's over 200 miles from London to Manchester. | It was 4 o'clock and the mail still hadn't come. | It had obviously been snowing but none of it stuck to the ground. | Can you believe she's forgotten it's my birthday today?

5 used to emphasize that one piece of information in a sentence is more important than the rest: It was Jane who paid for the meal yesterday. (=it was Jane and not another person) | It was the meal that Jane paid for yesterday. (=it was a meal and not something else) | It was yesterday that Jane paid for the meal. (=it was yesterday and not at another time)

6 used as the subject of `seem', `appear', `look' and `happen': It seems that no one really knows where he's gone. | Since it happened to be such a nice day they thought they'd go to the beach.

7 used to talk about a child or an animal when you do not know what sex they are: What will you call it if it's a boy?

8

a) it's me/John/a car etc used to give the name of a person or thing when it is not already known: “Who was that at the door?” “It was a man selling house insurance.” | “I can't quite make out what it's a photograph of.” “Oh, it's our new boat.”

b) it's me/John etc used to say who is speaking on a telephone: Hello, it's Carmel here. Is Polly there, please?

9 if it weren't for/if it hadn't been for if something had not happened: We would have arrived much earlier if it hadn't been for the snow.

10

a) informal a particular ability or quality: In a job like advertising, you've either got it or you haven't!

b) slang sexual intercourse: Have you done it with him yet?

11 this is it! spoken used to say that something you expected to happen is actually going to happen

12 That's it! spoken

a) used to say that a particular situation has finished: You can have one more cookie and then that's it!

b) used to praise someone because they have done something correctly

13 think you're it informal to think you are more important than you are: Just because he got a higher mark he really thinks he's it.