have-2

have one’s cake and eat it too and eat

one’s cake and have it too to enjoy both

having something and using it up; to have

it both ways. (Usually stated in the neg-

ative.) Tom wants to have his cake and

eat it too. It can’t be done. Don’t buy a

car if you want to walk and stay healthy.

You can’t eat your cake and have it too.

have one’s druthers to get one’s choice; to

be permitted to have one’s preference.

(Folksy. The druthers is from would

rather.) If I had my druthers, I’d go to

France.  Tom said that if he had his

druthers, he’d choose to stay home.

have one’s ear to the ground and keep

one’s ear to the ground to listen care-

fully, hoping to get advance warning of

something. (Refers to holding one’s ear

against the ground to listen for ap-

proaching horses or a train.) John had

his ear to the ground, hoping to find out

about new ideas in computers. His boss

told him to keep his ear to the ground so

that he’d be the first to know of a new idea.

have oneself something to select, use, or con-

sume something. (Folksy. Also with non-

reflexive pronouns, me, him, her, etc., as

in the last example.) He had himself a

two-hour nap. I’ll have myself one of

those red ones. I think I’ll have me a big,

cold drink.

have one’s feet on the ground Go to get

one’s feet on the ground.

have one’s finger in the pie Go to have a

finger in the pie.

have one’s finger in too may pies to be in-

volved in too many things; to have too

many tasks going to be able to do any of

them well. I’m too busy. I have my fin-

ger in too may pies. She never gets any-

thing done because she has her finger in too

many pies.

have one’s hand in the till to be stealing

money from a company or an organiza-

tion. (The till is a cash box or drawer.)

Mr. Jones had his hand in the till for

years before he was caught. I think that

the new clerk has her hand in the till.

There is cash missing every morning.

have one’s hands full (with someone or some-

thing) to be busy or totally occupied with

someone or something. (Literal when one

cannot hold anything else in one’s

hands.) I have my hands full with my

three children. You have your hands full

with the store. We both have our hands

full.

have one’s hands tied to be prevented from

doing something. (See also tie someone’s

hands.) I can’t help you. I was told not

to, so I have my hands tied. John can

help. He doesn’t have his hands tied.

have one’s head in the clouds to be un-

aware of what is going on. “Bob, do you

have your head in the clouds?” said the

teacher. She walks around all day with

her head in the clouds. She must be in love.

have one’s heart go out to someone to have

compassion for someone. I can’t have

my heart go out to everyone. To have

compassion is to have one’s heart go out

to those who are suffering.

have one’s heart in the right place to have

good intentions, even if there are bad re-

sults. (See also one’s heart is in the right

I don’t always do what is right,

but my heart is in the right place. Good

old Tom. His heart’s in the right place.

It doesn’t matter if she lost the game. She

has her heart in the right place.

have one’s heart on one’s sleeve Go to

wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve.

have one’s heart set against something to be

totally against something. (Also with

dead, as in the example. See also dead set

against someone or something; set one’s heart

against something.) Jane has her heart

dead set against going to Australia. John

has his heart set against going to college.

have one’s heart stand still <an expression

said when one’s heart (figuratively) stops

beating because one is feeling strong

emotions.> I had my heart stand still

once when I was overcome with joy.

Lovers—at least the ones in love songs—

usually have their hearts stand still.

have one’s luck run out for one’s good luck

to stop; for one’s good fortune to come to

an end. I had my luck run out when I

was in South America. I nearly starved.

I hate to have my luck run out just when

I need it.

have one’s nose in the air to be conceited

or aloof. (See also one’s nose is in the air.)

Mary always seems to have her nose in

the air. I wonder if she knows that she

has her nose in the air.

have one’s sights trained on something Go

to train one’s sights on something.

have one’s work cut out for one to have a

large and difficult task prepared for one.

(See also one’s work is cut out for one.)

They sure have their work cut out for them,

and it’s going to be hard. There is a lot

for Bob to do. He has his work cut out for

him.

have other fish to fry and have bigger

fish to fry; have more important fish

to fry to have other things to do; to have

more important things to do. I can’t

take time for your problem. I have other

fish to fry. I won’t waste time on your

question. I have bigger fish to fry.

have pull with someone to have influence

with someone. (Slang. Also with some,

much, lots, etc.) Let’s ask Ann to help

us. She has pull with the mayor. Do you

know anyone who has some pull with the

bank president? I need a loan.

have rocks in one’s head to be silly or

crazy. (Slang.) John is a real nut. He has

rocks in his head. I don’t have rocks in

my head—I’m just different.

have seen better days to be worn or worn

out. (Informal.) This coat has seen bet-

ter days. I need a new one. Oh, my old

legs ache. I’ve seen better days, but every-

one has to grow old.

have so Go to have too.

have someone in one’s pocket to have con-

trol over someone. (Informal.) Don’t

worry about the mayor. She’ll cooperate.

I’ve got her in my pocket. John will do

just what I tell him. I’ve got him and his

brother in my pocket.

have someone on the string to have some-

one waiting for your decision. (Informal.)

Sally has John on the string. He has

asked her to marry him, but she hasn’t

replied yet. Yes, it sounds like she has

him on the string.

have someone or something in one’s hands to

have control of or responsibility for

someone or something. You have the

whole project in your hands. The boss

put the whole project in your hands. I

have to leave the baby in your hands while

I go to the doctor.

have someone or something in tow to lead,

pull, or tow someone or something

around. Mrs. Smith has her son in tow.

That car has a boat in tow.

have someone or something on one’s hands to

be burdened with someone or some-

thing. I run a record store. I sometimes

have a large number of unwanted records

on my hands. She the all the children on

her hands today.

have someone or something on one’s mind to

think often about someone or something;

to be obsessed with someone or some-

thing. Bill has chocolate on his mind.

John has Mary on his mind every

minute.

have someone over to invite someone as a

guest to one’s house. When can we have

Aunt Jane over for dinner? I would love

to have you over some time.

have someone pegged as something Go to

peg someone as something.

have someone’s blood on one’s hands to be

responsible for someone’s death; to be

guilty of causing someone’s death. (Also

literal.) The teenager’s blood was on the

policeman’s hands. The king’s blood was

on the hands of the murderer who killed

him.

have someone’s hide to scold or punish

someone. (Refers to skinning an animal.

Informal. Compare this with skin someone

alive.) If you ever do that again, I’ll have

your hide. He said he’d have my hide if

I entered his garage again.

have something at hand Go to have something

at one’s fingertips.

have something at one’s fingertips and have

something at hand to have something

within (one’s) reach. (Have can be re-

placed with keep.) I have a dictionary

at my fingertips. I try to have everything

I need at hand. I keep my medicine at

my fingertips.

have something coming (to one) to deserve

punishment (for something). (Also lit-

eral. Informal.) Bill broke a window,

so he has a spanking coming to him.

That’s it, Bill. Now you’ve got it coming!

have something doing and have something

on to have plans for a particular time.

(Informal. Note the variation with any-

thing in the examples below.) BOB: Are

you busy Saturday night? BILL: Yes, I’ve

got something doing. I don’t have any-

thing doing Sunday night. I have some-

thing on almost every Saturday.

have something down pat to have learned or

memorized something perfectly. I have

practiced my speech until I have it down

pat. Tom has his part in the play down

pat. He won’t make any mistakes.

have something going (for oneself) [for

someone] to have a beneficial scheme or

operation going. (Informal.) John

really has something going for himself. He’s

a travel agent, and he gets to travel every-

where for free. I wish I could have some-

thing like that going.

have something going (with someone) 1. to

have a business deal with someone.

Sally has a new business project going with

Ann. They’ll announce a new product in

the spring. John and Tom work as stock-

brokers. I’ve heard that they have a busi-

ness deal going. 2. Go to have a thing go-

ing (with someone).

have something in common (with someone or

something) [for groups of people or things]

to resemble one another in specific ways.

Bill and Bob both have red hair. They

have that in common with each other.

Bob and Mary have a lot in common. I can

see why they like each other.

have something in hand to have something

in one’s hand or close by. (Compare this

with have something at hand.) I have

your letter of May tenth in hand. I have

my pen in hand, and I’m ready to write.

have something in mind to think of

something in particular; to have an idea

or image (of something) in one’s mind.

BILL: I would like to purchase some

boots. CLERK: Yes, sir. Did you have some-

thing in mind?  I have something in

mind, but I don’t see it here. Good day.

have something in stock to have merchan-

dise available and ready for sale. Do

you have extra large sizes in stock? Of

course, we have all sizes and colors in stock.

have something in store (for someone) to

have something planned for one’s future.

Tom has a large inheritance in store for

him when his uncle dies. I wish I had

something like that in store.

have something made 1. to hire someone to

make something. Isn’t it a lovely coat?

I had to have it made because I couldn’t

find one I liked in a store. We had the

cake made at the bakery. Our oven isn’t big

enough for a cake that size. 2. to have

achieved a successful state. (Slang. Usu-

ally with it.) Mary really has it made.

She inherited one million dollars. I wish

I had it made like that.

have something on Go to have something

doing.

have something on file to have a written

record of something in storage. I’m

sure I have your letter on file. I’ll check

again. We have your application on file

somewhere.

have something on the ball to have a par-

ticular amount of smartness or clever-

ness. (Slang.) Both John and Mary have

a lot on the ball. They should go far. I

think I’d do better in school if I had more

on the ball. I learn slowly.

have something on the brain to be obsessed

with something. (Slang.) Bob has cho-

colate on the brain. Mary has money

on the brain. She wants to earn as much as

possible.

have something on the tip of one’s tongue

to be on the verge of remembering a spe-

cific fact, such as someone’s name; to

have just forgotten a specific fact. (See

also on the tip of one’s tongue.) Just give

me a minute. I have her name on the tip

of my tongue! I had her name on the tip

of my tongue, but you made me forget it

when you called.

have something out (with someone) to settle

a disagreement or a complaint. (Infor-

mal.) John has been mad at Mary for a

week. He finally had it out with her today.

I’m glad we are having this out today.

have something stick in one’s craw to have

something irritate or displease someone.

(Folksy.) I don’t like to have Bill’s words

stick in my craw. He meant to have the

problem stick in my craw and upset me.

have something to do with something and

[not] have anything to do with some-

thing; have nothing to do with something

to be associated with or related to some-

thing. Does your dislike for Sally have

something to do with the way she insulted

you?  My illness has something to do

with my lungs.

have something to go Go to buy something to

go.

have something to spare to have more than

enough of something. (Informal. See also

and something to spare.) Ask John for

some firewood. He has firewood to spare.

Do you have any candy to spare?

have something up one’s sleeve to have

a secret or surprise plan or solution (to

a problem). (Slang. Refers to cheating at

cards by having a card hidden in one’s

sleeve.) I’ve got something up my sleeve,

and it should solve all your problems. I’ll

tell you what it is after I’m elected. The

manager has something up her sleeve.

She’ll surprise us with it later.

have the ball in one’s court to be respon-

sible for the next move in some process;

to have to make a response to something

that someone else has started. (Also lit-

eral.) You have the ball in your court

now. You have to answer the attorney’s

questions. There was no way that Liz

could avoid acting. She had the ball in her

court.

have the best of both worlds to be in a

situation where one can enjoy two dif-

ferent opportunities. When Donna was

a fellow at the university, she had the priv-

ileges of a professor and the freedom of a

student. She definitely had the best of both

worlds. Don hated to have to choose be-

tween retirement and continuing working.

He wanted to do both so he could have the

best of both worlds.

have the cards stacked against one and

have the deck stacked against one to

have one’s chance at future success lim-

ited by factors over which one has no

control; to have luck against one. You

can’t get very far in life if you have the deck

stacked against you. I can’t seem to get

ahead. I always have the cards stacked

against

have the courage of one’s convictions to

have enough courage and determination

to carry out one’s goals. It’s fine to have

noble goals in life and to believe in great

things. If you don’t have the courage of

your convictions, you’ll never reach your

goals. Jane was successful because she

had the courage of her convictions.

have the deck stacked against one Go to

have the cards stacked against one.

have the gall to do something to have suffi-

cient arrogance to do something. I bet

you don’t have the gall to argue with the

mayor. Only Jane has the gall to ask the

boss for a second raise this month.

have the gift of gab to have a great facil-

ity with language; to be able to use lan-

guage very effectively. (Slang.) My

brother really has the gift of gab. He can

convince anyone of anything. If I had

the gift of gab like you do, I’d achieve more

in life.

have the makings of something to possess

the qualities that are needed for some-

thing. The young boy had the makings

of a fine baseball player. My boss has all

the makings of a prison warden.

have the Midas touch to have the ability

to be successful, especially the ability to

make money easily. (From the name of

a legendary king whose touch turned

everything to gold.) Bob is a merchant

banker and really has the Midas touch.

The poverty-stricken boy turned out to

have the Midas touch and was a million-

aire by the time he was twenty-five.

have them rolling in the aisles to make

an audience roll in the aisles with laugh-

ter. (Slang.) I have the best jokes you’ve

ever heard. I’ll have them rolling in the

aisles. What a great performance. We

had them rolling in the aisles.

have the patience of a saint to be very

patient. (Refers to the “patience” that

someone experiencing martyrdom might

I don’t know how she puts up

with all those stupid questions. She has the

patience of a saint. Hurry up, please. I

am late and you are working too slow. I

don’t have the patience of a saint.

have the presence of mind to do something

to have the calmness and the ability to act

sensibly in an emergency or difficult sit-

uation. Jane had the presence of mind

to phone the police when the child disap-

peared. The child had the presence of

mind to take note of the car’s license

number.

have the right-of-way to possess the le-

gal right to occupy a particular space on

a public roadway. (See also yield the right-

of-way.) I had a traffic accident yester-

day, but it wasn’t my fault. I had the right-

of-way. Don’t pull out onto a highway

if you don’t have the right-of-way.

have the right to do something Go to have

a right to do something.

have the shoe on the other foot to ex-

perience the opposite situation (from a

previous situation). (Informal. Also with

be instead of have. See the examples. See

the proverb The shoe is on the other foot.

Compare this with in someone else’s

shoes.) I used to be a student, and now

I’m the teacher. Now I have the shoe on the

other foot. You were mean to me when

you thought I was cheating. Now that I

have caught you cheating, the shoe is on

the other foot.

have the time of one’s life to have a very

good time; to have the most exciting time

in one’s life. What a great party! I had

the time of my life. We went to Florida

last winter and had the time of our lives.

have the wherewithal (to do something) to

have the means to do something, espe-

cially energy or money. He has good

ideas, but he doesn’t have the wherewithal

to carry them out. I could do a lot if only

I had the wherewithal.

have to do with someone or something to be

associated with or related to someone or

something. This information only has

to do with people who came in late. My

illness has to do with my stomach.

have to live with something to have to en-

dure something. (See also learn to live

with something.) I have a slight limp in

the leg that I broke last year. The doctor

says I’ll have to live with it. We don’t like

the new carpeting in the living room, but

we’ll have to live with it.

have too and have so to have done some-

thing (despite anything to the contrary).

(This is an emphatic way of affirming

that something has happened.) BILL:

You haven’t made your bed. BOB: I have

too! I have so turned in my paper! If you

don’t have it, you lost it!

have too many irons in the fire to be do-

ing too many things at once. Tom had

too many irons in the fire and missed some

important deadlines. It’s better if you

don’t have too many irons in the fire.

have turned the corner to have passed a

critical point in a process. (Also literal.)

The patient has turned the corner. She

should begin to show improvement now.

The project has turned the corner. The rest

should be easy.

have two strikes against one to have sev-

eral things against one; to be in a posi-

tion where success is unlikely. Poor Bob

had two strikes against him when he tried

to explain where he was last night. I

can’t win. I have two strikes against me be-

fore I start.

have what it takes to have the ability,

courage, or stamina (to do something).

Bill has what it takes. He can swim for

miles. Tom won’t succeed. He doesn’t

have what it takes.

Have you been keeping busy? <a vague

greeting inquiry asking about how some-

one has been occupied.> (Really just a

way to say hello and open a conversa-

tion.) How are you? Have you been

keeping busy? What’ve you been doing?

Have you been keeping busy?

hazard a guess to make a guess. Even

if you don’t know, please hazard a guess.

If you don’t know the answer, hazard a

guess.

hazard an opinion to give an opinion.

Anne asked the attorney to hazard an

opinion about the strength of her lawsuit.

Don’t feel like you have to hazard an

opinion on something you know nothing

about.

He laughs best who laughs last Go to He

who laughs last, laughs longest.

He who pays the piper calls the tune.

The person who is paying for something

has control over how the money is used.

(Proverb.) Fred’s father is paying his

way through college, and wants to help

him choose his courses. He says that he

who pays the piper calls the tune. The

bride’s parents should have a say in where

the wedding is held since they’re paying for

it. He who pays the piper calls the tune.