(My mum comes home one night a little more tired than usual. She needs my help in the kitchen.)
Mum: “Can you please put the thing in the thing?”
Me: “Which thing?”
Mum: “You know, the big thing. The black one.”
Me: “This thing?” *holds up pan*
Mum: “No, no. The other one.”
Me: “Is it this thing?” *holds up wok*
Mum: “Argh, why don’t you understand? It’s the thing, the thing!”
(This goes on for quite some time until eventually I work out that she means one of the cooking pots, and I hold it up.)
Me: “This is the thing you’re talking about?”
Mum: “Yes! Yes, THAT thing!”
Me: “Mum, you’ve really got to be more specific when you talk about things.”