The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  hate someone’s guts Thoroughly despise someone, as in I hate Peter’s guts. The guts here refers to a person’s inner essence. [Slang; c. 1900]

  hat in hand Also, cap in hand. In a humble manner. For example, They went to her, hat in hand, asking for a change of assignment. This expression alludes to removing one’s headgear as a sign of respect and has survived the era of doffing one’s hat. [c. 1700]

  hat in the ring → See THROW ONE’S HAT IN THE RING.

  hats off to Congratulations to, as in Hats off to Claire! She’s set a new record for the mile. This expression alludes to taking off one’s hat as a sign of respect. [Mid-1800s]

  hatter → See MAD AS A HATTER.

  hat trick An extremely clever or adroit maneuver, as in It looked as though the party was going to achieve a hat trick in this election. The term originated in cricket, where it refers to three wickets taken by a bowler in three consecutive balls, traditionally rewarded with the presentation of a hat. It later was transferred to ice hockey, soccer, and baseball, where it denotes three consecutive successes (goals, hits), and then to more general use.

  haul → In addition to the idioms beginning with HAUL, also see LONG HAUL; RAKE (HAUL) OVER THE COALS.

  haul off 1. Draw back slightly, in preparation for some action. For example, He hauled off and smacked his brother in the face. [c. 1800] 2. Also, haul out. Shift operations to a new place, move away. For example, The group gradually hauled off to the West Coast, or The train hauled out just as I arrived. [Second half of 1800s]

  haul over the coals → See RAKE OVER THE COALS.

  haul up 1. Come to a halt, stop, as in We hauled up in front of the hotel. 2. Bring someone before a superior or other authority, call someone to account. For example, This was the third time he’d been hauled up before the judge. [Mid-1800s]

  have → In addition to the idioms beginning with HAVE, also see entries beginning with GET, HAD, and KEEP.

  have a ball Enjoy oneself enormously, as in It was a great trip—I had a ball. This idiom uses the noun ball in the sense of “a gala dance.” [Slang; 1920s]

  have a big mouth → See BIG MOUTH.

  have a bone to pick → See BONE TO PICK.

  have a brush with Have an encounter or come in conflict with, as in This was not the first time that Bob had a brush with the law. This expression alludes to the noun brush in the sense of “a hostile collision,” a usage dating from about 1400.

  have a case on Also, have a crush on. Be infatuated with someone, as in He’s had a case on her for years, or Teenage girls often have a crush on this teacher. The first slangy term dates from the mid-1800s; the second, a colloquialism, dates from the late 1800s.

  have a clear conscience Also, have a clean conscience. Feel free of guilt or responsibility. For example, I have a clear conscience—I did all I could to help. This idiom is also put as one’s conscience is clear or clean, as in His conscience is clean about telling the whole story. The adjective clear has been used in the sense of “innocent” since about 1400; clean was so used from about 1300.

  have a clue → See NOT HAVE A CLUE.

  have a crack at Also, get or have a go or shot or whack at; take a crack at. Make an attempt or have a turn at doing something. For example, Let me have a crack at assembling it, or I had a shot at it but failed, or Dad thinks he can—let him have a go at it, or Dave had a whack at changing the tire, or Jane wants to take a crack at it. The oldest of these colloquialisms is have a shot at, alluding to firing a gun and first recorded in 1756; crack and go date from the 1830s, and whack from the late 1800s.

  have a crush on → See HAVE A CASE ON.

  have a familiar ring Sound or seem as though one has already heard of something. For example, That story has a familiar ring; I’m sure I’ve read it before.

  have a fit Also, have fits or a conniption fit; take or throw a fit; have kittens. Become extremely upset. For example, She’ll have a fit when she sees Anne wearing the same dress, or Mom had a conniption fit when she heard about the broken mirror, or Don’t take a fit—the car’s not really damaged, or Jill was having kittens over the spoiled cake. One can also give someone a fit or fits, as in His dithering about punctuation is enough to give me fits. Fit and fits, along with conniption fit, have been used in hyperbolic expressions to denote a bout of hysterics since the 1830s; throw a fit was first recorded in 1906, and have a fit in 1924; have kittens, alluding to being so upset as to bear kittens, also dates from about 1900.

  have against → See HAVE SOMETHING AGAINST.

  have a go at → See HAVE A CRACK AT.

  have a good command of Have the ability to use or control; have mastery of. For example, She has a remarkably good command of Japanese, or He had a good command of his emotions. [Mid-1600s]

  have a good day → See HAVE A NICE DAY.

  have a good head on one’s shoulders → See GOOD HEAD ON ONE’S SHOULDERS.

  have a good mind to Be strongly inclined to, as in She had a good mind to tell him everything. A slightly weaker form of this idiom is have a mind to, as in I have a mind to spend my next vacation in the desert. Formerly this idiom was sometimes put as have a great mind to. [c. 1400] Also see HALF A MIND.

  have a good thing going Have matters arranged to one’s benefit or profit. For example, Joe’s got a good thing going with this new franchise. It also may be put as make a good thing of, meaning “make something work to one’s benefit,” as in If we work hard we can make a good thing of this job. The first term dates from the second half of the 1900s, the second from the early 1800s. A similar usage is be on to a good thing, in effect preceding “have a good thing going.” For example, With his discovery of a new company with job openings, George told us he was on to a good thing. [Late 1800s] Also see HAVE GOING FOR ONE.

  have a good time Enjoy oneself, as in I hope you have a good time at the beach. This idiom, also used as an imperative, dates from 16th-century England, where it was popular until the late 1600s and died out. Samuel Pepys, in a diary entry of March 1, 1666, wrote, “I went and had as good a time as heart could wish.” In America it continued to be used, and in the 1800s it reappeared in British speech as well. Also see HARD TIME; SHOW SOMEONE A GOOD TIME.

  have a grasp of → See under GET A FIX ON.

  have a hand in 1. Also, take a hand in. Participate, be involved, as in I’d like to have a hand in planning the publicity. [Late 1500s] 2. have or keep one’s hand in. Be actively engaged or remain in practice doing something. For example, He works as stage manager, director, understudy—he has a hand in every aspect, or Write a few pages every day, just to keep your hand in. [Mid-1700s]

  have a hard time → See HARD TIME.

  have a head for Also, have a good or strong head for. 1. Be able to tolerate, as in Nell has no head for liquor, or Luckily I have a good head for heights. [Early 1800s] 2. Have a mental aptitude for, as in She has a good head for figures and straightened out the statistics in no time. [Early 1900s]

  have a heart Be merciful, show pity; also, be reasonable. For example, Have a heart—I can’t pay you back until next month, or Have a heart and stop your arguing now. This expression is often put as an imperative, as in the examples. [c. 1900] Also see HARDEN ONE’S HEART.

  have a hold over Also, have a hold on. Have a controlling influence over. For example, Blackmailers have a hold over their victims, or, as Shakespeare put it in The Merchant of Venice (4:1): “The law has yet another hold on you.” [Late 1500s]

  have all one’s buttons Also, have all one’s marbles. Be completely sane and rational. For example, Grandma may be in a wheelchair, but she still has all her buttons, or I’m not sure he has all his marbles. These slangy expressions date from the mid-1800s, as do the antonyms lose or be missing some of one’s buttons or marbles, meaning “become (or be) mentally deficient.”

  have a lot going for → See HAVE GOING FOR ONE.

  have a lot on one’s plate Also, have too much on one’s plate. Have a great deal (or too much) to cope
with, as in What with the new baby and the new house, they have a lot on their plate, or I can’t take that on now; I’ve got too much on my plate already. This expression transfers a loaded or overloaded dinner plate to other activities. [First half of 1900s]

  have a mind to → See HAVE A GOOD MIND TO.

  have an edge on Also, have the edge on. Have an advantage over, as in Our team has an edge on them, or In this competition our town has the edge. The use of edge here alludes to the power to cut, transferred to a margin of superiority. [Late 1800s]

  have a nerve Also, have some nerve. Have audacity, show effrontery. For example, You have a nerve telling me what to do, or She had some nerve, criticizing the people who donated their time. The related have the nerve is used with an infinitive, as in He had the nerve to scold his boss in public. This idiom uses nerve in the sense of “courage” or “audacity.” [Late 1800s]

  have an eye for 1. Be discriminating or perceptive about something, as in She has an eye for decorating. [c. 1700] 2. have eyes for. Also, have eyes only for. Be attracted to or desire someone or something (exclusively). For example, It’s obvious she has eyes for him, or He has eyes only for the top award. [Early 1800s]

  have a nice day Also, have a good day; have a good one. A cordial goodbye to you. For example, Thanks for the order, have a nice day, or See you next week—have a good day, or The car’s ready for you—have a good one. These expressions have become synonymous with a polite farewell. The first originated about 1920 but, like the variants, became widespread only after 1950.

  have another guess coming Also, have another think coming. Be mistaken and therefore have to reconsider or rethink one’s answer. For example, If you think you can fool me, you have another guess coming, or John thinks he convinced me; well, he has another think coming. A related idiom is guess again, often used in the imperative, as in You think that car cost $20,000? Guess again! [Colloquial; first half of 1900s]

  have an out Have a means of escape or an excuse, as in I’m supposed to go to the meeting, but I have an out—Sam invited me first to come to his wedding. One can also give someone an out, as in She was hoping someone would give her an out; otherwise she’d be stuck visiting relatives all afternoon. [Slang; early 1900s]

  have a penchant for Have a tendency or taste for. For example, He has a penchant for saying the wrong thing, or She has a strong penchant for baroque music. [Second half of 1600s]

  have a right to Have a just or legal claim on something or on some action, as in The accused has a right to legal counsel. The related have the right to is often used with infinitives, as in You have the right to remain silent. [Late 1300s] The antonym, dating from the mid-1600s, is have no right to, as in He has no right to push you aside. Also see IN THE RIGHT.

  have a say in 1. Also, have a voice in. Have the right or power to influence or make a decision about something. For example, I want to have a say in this matter, or Citizens want to have a voice in their local government. [c. 1600] 2. have one’s say. Express one’s views, as in As soon as I’ve had my say I’ll sit down. [Late 1600s] 3. have the say. Be in command, as in The general has the say over which troops will be sent. [Early 1800s]

  have a screw loose Be mentally unstable or eccentric, as in Anyone who approves that purchase must have a screw loose. This term likens a mental weakness to a machine in which a part is not securely fastened. An antonym is have one’s head screwed on right; for example, She’s very capable; she has her head screwed on right. [Slang; early 1800s]

  have a shot at → See HAVE A CRACK AT.

  have a stake in Have a share, interest, or involvement in something or someone. For example, Every member had a stake in the business, or She knew that she had a stake in her children’s future. This term uses stake in the sense of “something to gain or lose,” as in gambling. [Late 1700s]

  have at Attack; also, make an attempt at. For example, Urging the dog on, he said, “Go on, Rover, have at him,” or It’s time to have at straightening out these files. [Late 1300s]

  have a thing about Be obsessed or preoccupied with something. For example, He has a thing about disorder in the garage, or Bob has a thing about brunettes. [Slang; first half of 1900s]

  have a thing going → See HAVE A GOOD THING GOING; HAVE GOING FOR ONE.

  have a time of it → See under HARD TIME, def. 1.

  have a way with Have success in dealing with, as in She has a way with young children. [c. 1700]

  have a weakness for Be susceptible to; also, like or enjoy. For example, She has a weakness for older men, or Bill has a weakness for fine wine. [c. 1700]

  have a whack at → See HAVE A CRACK AT.

  have a word with Speak with, discuss with, as in Jerry asked to have a word with you, or I must have a word with Bill about the repairs. This expression, from the late 1400s, was at one time used interchangeably with HAVE WORDS WITH, but it no longer is.

  have a yen for Crave or desire, as in I have a yen for a thick juicy steak. The yen in this expression comes from the Chinese yan, meaning “a craving” (probably for opium). The term was first recorded in English in 1906.

  have designs on Contrive a secret plot or scheme, especially with selfish motives. For example, I think he has designs on my job, or Mary has designs on her sister’s boyfriend. This term uses design in the sense of “a crafty plan,” a usage dating from about 1700.

  have dibs on Have a first claim on something, as in If you don’t want it, I have dibs on the next available apartment. This term was originally schoolyard slang. [c. 1930]

  have done Stop or cease, as in Have done—enough of this nonsense. This idiom is also put as have done with, as in This arrangement won’t work; let’s find a new one and have done with it. The past participle done has been used in the sense of “finished” since about 1300. Also see HAVE TO DO WITH.

  have eyes only for → See HAVE AN EYE FOR, def. 2.

  have fits → See HAVE A FIT.

  have going for one Have in one’s favor or of benefit to one. For example, They have enough going for them that their new store should be a success, or Mary is very talented; she has a lot going for her. [Mid-1900s] Also see HAVE A GOOD THING GOING.

  have got to → See HAVE TO.

  have had enough Want no more of something, as in I’ve had enough of their quarreling. This phrase uses enough in the sense of “an adequate amount,” which is intended ironically to mean “a more than sufficient amount.” [c. 1700] For synonyms, see FED TO THE GILLS; HAVE HAD IT, def. 1.

  have had it 1. Also, have had it up to here. Have endured all one can, as in I’ve had it with their delays, or She has had it up to here with her hour-long commute. 2. Be in a state beyond remedy, repair, or salvage, as in That old coat has had it. 3. Be dead, as in His heart just stopped; he’d had it. All three colloquial usages, which appear to be shortenings of HAVE HAD ENOUGH, date from the mid-1900s.

  have in common → See IN COMMON.

  have in one’s hands → See IN ONE’S HANDS.

  have issues Have emotional or psychological difficulties. Here “issues” is in effect a euphemism for “serious personal problems.” For example, There’s no question that with both of them having children from earlier unions, their marriage has issues. [c. 1980]

  have it 1. Receive or learn something, as in I have it on the best authority that he’s running again. [Late 1600s] 2. Possess a solution, understand, as in Is this the new phone number? Do I have it straight? or I think I have it now. [Mid-1800s] 3. Take it, as in There’s some ice cream left; go ahead and have it. This usage is always put as an imperative. [Second half of 1300s] 4. Have the victory, win, as in We’ve counted the votes and the nays have it. The related expressions have it over someone or have it all over someone mean “to be superior to someone.” For example, Jane has it all over Mary when it comes to reading aloud. [Early 1900s] 5. let someone have it. Give a beating, scolding, or punishment. For example, When she gets home Dad will let her have it. [Mid-1800s] 6. have it off. Have sexual inte
rcourse, as in The two dogs were having it off in the backyard. [Colloquial; early 1900s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with HAVE IT; NOT HAVE IT.

  have it both ways Achieve two mutually exclusive objectives, as in Bill wants to have it both ways—to enjoy Christmas at home and to travel with his friends. The related have it all means “to get everything one wants,” as in It’s too bad we can’t have it all—the wisdom of experience and the fresh enthusiasm of youth. [Early 1900s]

  have it coming Deserve what one receives, as in You may not like being reprimanded, but you have to admit you had it coming, or When he won the Nobel Prize, everyone said he’d had it coming for a long time. [c. 1900]

  have it in for Intend to harm, especially because of a grudge. For example, Ever since he called the police about their dog, the neighbors have had it in for Tom. [Mid-1800s]

  have it in one Have the ability to accomplish something. As Sir Arthur Conan Doyle put it in A Study in Scarlet (1887), “I know well that I have it in me to make my name famous.”

  have it made Be sure of success; also, have achieved success. For example, Since he knows all the important people, John has it made, or Karen was accepted every place she applied—she has it made. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]

  have it out Settle decisively, especially in an argument or discussion. For example, “I shall double-lock myself in with him and have it out before I die” (Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby, 1839). [Early 1800s]

  have kittens → See HAVE A FIT.

  have no business → See NONE OF ONE’S BUSINESS.