The phrase "the real thing" is an idiomatic expression that means something which is genuine, authentic or original. It can be used to describe a person, place or thing that is not a fake, imitation or copy but rather the true and accurate representation of what it claims to be. For example, if someone says "this restaurant serves the real thing" they mean that their food is made with genuine ingredients and traditional recipes, as opposed to being artificially flavored or processed. Similarly, if a person refers to another individual as "the real thing," it means they are sincere, honest and not just putting on an act.