Commonly used english part 32 pps

have an ace up one's sleeve - have something that you can use to gain an advantage in a card game the ace is often the most valuable card and a cheater could have an ace up his or her sl

have a way with (someone or something)

- be able to lead/persuade/influence others

The little girl has a way with horses They are very gentle when she is around

have a weakness for (someone or something)

- be unable to resist someone or something

The girl has a weakness for chocolate and is always eating it

have a whale of a time

- have an exciting time

Everybody had a whale of a time at the school picnic

have a word with (someone)

- talk briefly with someone

I will have a word with my boss before he goes home tonight

have an accident

- experience something that was not intended

I had an accident on my way to work this morning

have an ace up one's sleeve

- have something that you can use to gain an advantage (in a card game the ace is often the most valuable card and a cheater could have an ace up his or her sleeve to use against an opponent)

I have an ace up my sleeve which should help me when I meet my boss tomorrow

have an ax to grind (with someone)

- have something to complain about

My co-worker has an ax to grind with our boss and is always complaining

have an ear for (something)

- have the ability to learn music or languages

My cousin has an ear for music and is a very good musician

have an edge on/over (someone or something)

- have an advantage over someone or something

Our team has an edge over the other teams to win the high school football

championship

have an eye for (something)

- have good taste in something, be able to judge correctly

She has an eye for nice furniture and her apartment is absolutely beautiful

have an in with (someone)

- have a way to request a special favor from someone

The woman has an in with her boss and can easily get time off

have an itch to do something

- have a desire to do something

I have an itch to go fishing this summer

have an out

- have an excuse

The teacher asked me to do my presentation tomorrow but I have an out and don't have to do it I will go to the doctor tomorrow

(not) have anything to do with someone

- (not) want to be a friend/work/do business with someone

My father will not have anything to do with the salesman because he sold him the faulty car

have arrived

- reach a position of power/authority/prominence

The manager thought that she had arrived when she was given a beautiful corner office

have bearing on (something)

- affect or influence something

The company decision had much bearing on the way that the company was managed

have been around

- have been to many places and done many things, be experienced

My brother has been around and has been overseas many times

have been had

- have been cheated or dealt with badly

I felt that I had been had when the salesman sold me the bad product

have been through the mill

- have become exhausted or been badly treated

The students have been through the mill and want to relax after the final exams

have been to hell and back

- have survived a great deal of trouble

I thought that I had been to hell and back after I lost my job and couldn't find a new one

have clean hands

- be guiltless

I felt that I had clean hands and did not need to worry about the company scandal

have come a long way

- have accomplished much

The woman has come a long way since she lost her house and her apartment

have contact with (someone)

- communicate with someone

The government has had no contact with the kidnappers for several weeks

have designs on (someone or something)

- have plans for someone or something

The city has designs on the land that the railway used to occupy

have dibs on (something)

have egg on one`s face

- be embarrassed

He has egg on his face after finding out about his mistake

have eyes bigger than one's stomach

- have a desire for more food than one can eat

I had eyes bigger than my stomach when I took too much food at the buffet

have eyes in the back of one's head

- be able to sense what is going on where you can't see

The man has eyes in the back of his head and knows everything that is going on

have eyes only for (someone or something)

- give all of one`s attention to someone or something, be interested only in someone

or something

She has eyes only for her boyfriend

have feet of clay

- have a character defect

The candidate has feet of clay and is being criticized by many of her opponents

have growing pains

- a child or organization has difficulties in its growth

The new company is having growing pains as it trys to meet the demands for its services

have had enough

- have had as much as you need of something

I have had enough sun today so I will go home soon

have had it up to here with (someone or something)

- have reached the end of one's endurance or tolerance

The teacher has had it up to here with the bad behavior of the students

have had it with (someone or something)

- be unable to tolerate someone or something anymore

I have had it with her constant complaining

have had its day

- be no longer useful or successful

My suitcase has had its day and I must buy a new one

have half a mind to (do something)

- feel tempted or inclined to do something

I have half a mind to go and offer my resignation to the president

have in mind

- intend, plan

"What do you have in mind for your wife`s birthday?"

have it

have it

- claim, say

Rumor has it that three of the supervisors will be leaving next week

have it

- allow (usually used with will or would)

We wanted to have a party at our office next month but our boss will not have it

have it

- get/find the answer, understand

I think I finally have it The reason she is leaving is because she is going to have a baby

have it all over (someone or something)

- be much better than someone or something

My new bicycle has it all over my old one

have it both ways

- do two things, have two things

"You can`t have it both ways You must choose one or the other."

have it coming (to someone)

- deserve punishment

He really has it coming after causing many problems in his company

have it in for (someone)

- show ill will to someone, dislike someone

I have been having problems at work recently I think that the new supervisor has it in for me

have it made

- be successful, have everything

He has it made with his new job

have it out with (someone)

- argue or fight with someone

I had it out with my friend yesterday over the problem with the money

have mixed feelings about (someone or something)

- be uncertain about someone or something

I have mixed feelings about moving away and taking the new job

have money to burn

- have lots of money

The man has money to burn and is always buying something new

have never had it so good

- have never been in such a good situation

We have never had it so good since the new supervisor came to our department

have no business (doing something)

have none of (something)

- not tolerate or endure something

Our teacher will have none of our talking loudly in the class

have nothing on (someone or something)

- have no information or evidence about someone or something

The police have nothing on the man so they could not arrest him

have nothing to do with (someone or something)

- not be involved with someone or something

My aunt will have nothing to do with most members of her family

have nothing/none to spare

- not have extra of something

We had none to spare so we were unable to give any books to the hospital

have on (something)

- be wearing something

"What did she have on when you last saw her?"

have one foot in the grave

- be near death

My uncle is very sick and has one foot in the grave

have one for the road

- have a drink before leaving

We decided to have one for the road before we walked down to the train station to go home

have one`s ass in a sling

- be in an uncomfortable predicament, be at a disadvantage

He really has his ass in a sling now that he has quit his job and can`t find another one

have one's back to the wall

- be in a defensive position

The boy has his back to the wall and must pass his exam or leave school

have one's cake and eat it too

- have something both ways

The union wants to have their cake and eat it too and will not give up anything during the bad economic times

have one's druthers

- get one's choice

If I had my druthers I would not go to the meeting this evening

have one's ear to the ground

- listen carefully for advice or advance warning of something

Our teacher always has his ear to the ground to look for possible trouble at school

have one`s eye on (something)

- have a wish/aim for something, look or think about something

I want to buy a present for my girlfriend and I have my eye on a dress that I saw at the department store last week