such

(I) never heard of such a thing!

an expression of amazement and disbelief. (Compare this with Well, I never!) Bill: The company sent out a representative the same day I called to examine the new sofa and see what the problem was with the wobbly leg. Jane: I've never heard of such a thing! That's very unusual. Bill: The tax office is now open on Sunday! Sue: Never heard of such a thing!

See also: hear, never

as such

in the way something is; as someone or something is. I cannot accept your manuscript as such. It needs revisions. You are new to this job, and as such, I will have to train you.

Like it's such a big deal!

Inf. It really isn't all that important! (Sarcastic.) So I dropped the glass. Like it's such a big deal. Like it's such a big deal. Who cares?

See also: big, like

such and such

someone or something whose name has been forgotten or should not be said. Mary said that such and such was coming to her party, but I forgot their names. If you walk into a store and ask for such and such and they don't have it, you go to a different store.

See also: and

such as it is

Cliché in the imperfect state that one sees it; in the less-than-perfect condition in which one sees it. This is where I live. This is my glorious home—such as it is. I've worked for days on this report, and I've done the best that I can do. It's my supreme effort—such as it is.

such as...

for example. Bill enjoys many kinds of fruit, such as apples, pears, and plums. Mary has many hobbies, such as swimming, bowling, and running.

Such is life!

That is the way things happen! (Usually in reference to an unfortunate outcome.) Oh, well. Everything can't be perfect. Such is life! So I failed my test. Such is life! I can take it again some time.

There's no such thing as a free lunch. and There ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

Prov. Cliché Everything costs something. (Can imply that you should be suspicious of anything that appears to be free.) Fred: This advertisement says I can get an expensive camera for free! Jane: Don't be so gullible. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Mary gave me her sewing machine, but I had to give it $100 worth of repairs before I could even use it. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

See also: free, lunch, thing

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No such luck!

something that you say in order to express disappointment that you were not able to do something that you wanted to I had hoped we'd have time for lunch somewhere. No such luck.

sink to such depths

to behave very badly I find it hard to believe that human beings could sink to such depths.

See also: depth, sink

Such is life.  also That's life.

something that you say when you are talking about bad things that happen or exist which you cannot prevent and must therefore accept In an ideal world, I'd rather have the child and the career but it's not possible. That's life.

See also: life

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

something that you say which means that if someone gives you something, they always expect you to give them something or to do something for them He offered me a room in his house, but he seems to expect me to do all the housework. I should have known there's no such thing as a free lunch.

See It's one thing after another!, one thing leads to another, know a thing or two

See also: free, lunch, thing

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as such

1. being exactly what is mentioned or suggested There's no dining room as such, but we've made a dining area just outside the kitchen.

2. considered alone or by itself The size of their family as such is not a factor in our decision to give them financial aid.

no such luck (spoken)

the situation or event did not develop as you hoped it would I believed that was the end of the conversation, but no such luck – he just kept on talking.

See also: luck

that's life also such is life

this is the way things are I'm disappointed that I won't be allowed to compete, but that's life. I went to two afternoon sessions and then I had to leave, which was a shame, but such is life.

Usage notes: used to show that you have to accept things as they are

See also: life

there is no such thing

the situation you are talking about does not exist There is no such thing as a completely truthful politician, he maintained.

See also: thing