Someone shows you a small project, tries a difficult move, or makes something you did not expect much from—and it is genuinely good. 有点东西 is the little nod that follows. It says there is real ability or substance here, often more than the speaker expected.
The praise is casual and deliberately restrained. Compared with 很厉害, it sounds less like a formal verdict and more like amused recognition: “okay, you’ve got something.” That makes it natural with friends, in comments, or while reacting to a result. Depending on delivery, it can tease, but the plain phrase is usually favorable.
Do not confuse it with literal 有东西, “there is something,” and watch the add-on 但是不多. 有点东西，但是不多 pulls the compliment toward mockery: there may be some skill, just not much. For plain 有点东西, listen for the moment when modest expectations turn into real approval.
