<?php
    $host = 'localhost'; // Host name Normally 'LocalHost'
    $user = 'root'; // MySQL login username
    $pass = ''; // MySQL login password
    $database = 'test'; // Database name

    mysql_connect($host, $user, $pass);
    mysql_select_db($database);

    $sql="SELECT thing FROM dropdown";
    $result=mysql_query($sql);

    $options="";

    while ($row=mysql_fetch_array($result))
    {
        $thing=$row["thing"];
        $options.="<OPTION VALUE=\"" . $thing . "\">" . $thing;
    }
?>
<SELECT NAME=thing>
<OPTION VALUE=0>Choose
<?=$options?>
</SELECT>