kind

*all kinds of someone or something

Fig. a great number of people or things; a great amount of something, especially money. (*Typically: be ~; have ~.) There were all kinds of people there, probably thousands. The Smith family has all kinds of money.

a kind of something

a variety of something that is fairly close to the real thing, even though it is not exactly the real thing. I used a folded newspaper as a kind of hat to keep the rain off. Bill is serving as a kind of helper or assistant on this project.

crawling with some kind of creature

[of a surface] covered with insects or animals, moving about. The basement was crawling with rats! We came home and found the kitchen floor crawling with ants.

See also: crawl, creature, some

get some kind of mileage out of something 

1. Lit. to achieve some level of efficiency with a vehicle. (Some kind of typically includes more, better, good, etc.) Do you get good mileage out of a vehicle like this.

2. Fig. to get [sufficient] use or service from something. I wish I could get better mileage out of this car. He knows how to get a lot of mileage out of a pair of shoes.

See also: get, mileage, out, some

in kind 

1. in goods rather than in money. The country doctor was usually paid in kind. He accepted two pigs as payment for an operation. Do you have to pay tax on payments made in kind?

2. similarly; [giving] something similar to what was received. John punched Bill, and Bill gave it back in kind. She spoke rudely to me, so I spoke to her in kind.

It takes all kinds (to make a world).

Fig. There are many different kinds of people, and you should not condemn them for being different. Jill: Eleanor's trying another fad diet. This week she's sprinkling dried algae on all her food. Jane: It takes all kinds. Child: Mommy, I saw a weird man today. He was walking down the street singing real loud. I wish they'd put weird people like that away. Mother: Now, now, honey, it takes all kinds to make a world.

See also: take

let out some kind of sound

[for a living creature] to make some kind of a noise or sound. Be quiet. Don't let out a sound! Suddenly, Jane let out a shriek.

See also: let, out, some, sound

nothing of the kind 

1. no; absolutely not. I didn't tear your jacket—nothing of the kind! Did I break your vase? Nothing of the kind!

2. nothing like that. That's not true. We did nothing of the kind! She did nothing of the kind! She wasn't even there!

See also: nothing

sort of and kind of

Yes, but only to a small degree. Bob: Do you like what you're doing in school? Alice: Kind of. Henry: What do you think about all these new laws? Do they worry you? John: Sort of.

See also: sort

sort of something and kind of something

almost something; somewhat; somehow. Isn't it sort of cold out? That was kind of a stupid thing to do, wasn't it?

See also: sort

two of a kind

Fig. people or things of the same type or that are similar in character, attitude, etc. Jack and Tom are two of a kind. They're both ambitious. The companies are two of a kind. They both pay their employees badly.

See also: two

with advance notice and on advance notice

with some kind of notification or indication that something is going to happen or is expected before it actually happens. We are happy to provide special meals for anyone with advance notice.

See also: advance, notice

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not be the marrying kind  (humorous)

if a man is not the marrying kind, he does not want to be married

Usage notes: People sometimes use this phrase to mean that the man is homosexual (= sexually attracted to other men).

George has had several girlfriends, but he's not the marrying kind.

See also: marry

be one of a kind

to be the only one of a particular type of thing or person As a female engineer who began her career in the 1940s, she was one of a kind.

See also: one

be two of a kind

if two people are two of a kind, they have very similar characters Amy and I are two of a kind. That's why we've stayed friends for so long.

See also: two

You have to be cruel to be kind.

something that you say when you do something to someone that will upset them now because you think it will help them in the future I told her she's just not good enough to be a professional dancer - sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. I know you have to be cruel to be kind, Sam, but telling Amy that she looks fat in her party dress was a bit harsh.

See also: have

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in kind

with the same thing It was a nasty letter, but I will not respond in kind.

Etymology: based on payment in kind (paying for something with food or things or work rather than money)

kind of

to some degree sort of I try to dress kind of nicely for work. I guess I kind of forget to thank her for all she does for me.

one of a kind

the only item of a particular type He was an extraordinary person - absolutely one of a kind.

See also: one

sort of

to some degree kind of It seemed to be sort of a cross between an oyster and a mushroom.

Usage notes: sometimes used to show that you are not certain about something: I'm sort of at an age where I just want things to be a little more orderly.

See also: sort

two of a kind

very similar (like) two peas in a pod Where books are concerned, Tyler and Chloë are two of a kind.

See also: two