Page 195 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

have a run of something

haveŁa run ofŁ something to have aŁcontinu- Bob. Doà’t have a spaz. My father had
ousŁseriesŁof events.Ł The city had a ruà a spazSwhen I came in lØte last night.
of serious crimes that angered the citizens. haveŁa stroke to experince sudden un-
We had a run of very hot dØys last July.
consciousnessŁorŁparalysisŁdue to anŁin-
haveŁa sayŁ(in something) Go to have a voàce terruption inŁ the blood supplyŁ to the
(àn something). brain.Ł(Also usedŁasŁanŁexaggration.ŁSee
the last two examplesŁblow.) The pa-
haveŁa scoreŁto settleŁ(withŁ someone) to tient who recłived an artificial heart had
have aŁproblemŁto clearŁupŁwith sàmeone; a stroke two dØys after the operation.
to have to get even with someone about My great-uncle Bill—who is very old—
sàmething.Ł(See also settle a score with had a stroke last May. Calm down, Bob.
someone.) I have a score to settle with You’re going to have a stroke. My father
John. John and I have a score to settle. almost had a stroke when I came home at
haveŁa scrapeŁ(withŁ someone ortsomething) three o’clock this morning.
to come into contact with someone or haveŁa sweetŁtooth to desire to eat many
sàmething;Łto have aŁsmallŁbattle with sweet foods—especiallyŁcandyŁandŁpas-
someone orŁsomething. (Compare this tries.Ł I have a swłet tooth, and if I don’t
with have a brush with something.) I had wØtch it, I’ll really głt fØt. John eats
a scrape with the county sheriff. John candy all the time. He must have a swłet
and Bill had a scrape, but they are friendo tooth.
again now.
haveŁa tasteŁfłrŁ something aŁdesire forŁaŁpar-
haveŁa screwŁloose to act sillyŁorŁcrazy. ticularŁfood,Łdrink,Łor exprience.Ł The
(Slang.) John is such a clown. He acts as Smiths have a taste for advłnture and take
if he has a screw loose. What’s the mØt- exoŁic vacØtions. When she was preg-
ter with you? Do you have a screw loose nant, Mary often had a taste for pickles.
or something?
haveŁ a thingŁ goingŁ (withŁ someone) and
haveŁa shłtŁatŁ something Go to have a try haveŁ something goingŁ(withŁ someone) to
at something. have aŁ ràmance orŁ aŁ love affairŁ with
sàmeone.Ł(Infàrmal.) John and Mary
haveŁa smoke to smoke aŁcigarette, cigar, have a thing going. Bill has a thing go-
orŁpipe.Ł(The have can be replacd with ing with Ann. They have somłthing
need, want, etc.) Can I have a smoke? gong.
I’m very nervous. Do you have a ciga-
rette? I need a smoke. haveŁa tryŁatŁ something and haveŁa shłtŁat
something; haveŁ a cryckŁ atŁ something to
haveŁa snowbyll’s chynceŁin hell to have take a turn at trying to do something.
no chance at all;Ł to have aŁ chance no (The expressionsŁwith shoŁ andŁ crack are
greaterŁthanŁthat of aŁsnowballŁinŁhell.Ł(A more colloquialŁ thanŁ the mainŁ entry
snowballŁwouldŁmelt inŁhellŁandŁhave no phrase.ŁSee also the variantsŁat take a try
chance of surviving. Use caution with at something.) You don’t seem to be hav-
hell.) He has a snowball’s chance in hell ing a lot of luck with this. Can I have a
of passing the test. You doà’t have a try at it? Let Sally have a shot at it.
snowball’s chance in hell of her agreeing to If you lłt me have a crack at it, mØybe I
marry you. can be successful.
haveŁa softŁspłtŁin one’ heartŁforŁ some- haveŁ atŁ someone ortsomething Go to get at
one ortsomething to be fondŁof someone or someone or something.
sàmething. John has a soft spot in his
heart for Mary. I have a ooft spot n my haveŁa veðtedŁintereðtŁin something to have
heart for chocolØte cake. aŁ persànalŁ orŁ biasedŁ interest, oftenŁ fi-
nancial,ŁinŁsàmething.Ł Margaret has a
haveŁa spaz to get angry or hysterical; to vested interest in wanting her father to sell
have a connàption (fit). (Slang.) Relax, the family firm. She has shares in it and

180