You see it again on 209, a little later in this scene. His suspicion is aroused when a car pulls up next to them as they're heading out of town.

在209页，这个场景的后半部分，你将再次看见他产生怀疑,当时他们正走在去镇里的路上，一辆车停在他们旁边。

耶鲁公开课 - 1945年后的美国小说课程节选

The thing is" is the pattern that we use in a sentence to stop people on their tracks.

当你想阻止某人在他们设想的路上走下去的时候，可以使用“The thing is”句型。

The thing is 课堂 - SpeakingMax英语口语达人

The thing is" is very useful to stop people in their tracks.

当你想阻止某人在他们设想的路上走下去的时候，“The thing is”句型是个非常有用的句型。

The thing is 课堂 - SpeakingMax英语口语达人