Page 196 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

have contact with someone

would make a large profit. Jack has a ciallyŁwith females—since thisŁcanŁalsà
vested interest in keepng the villagł rfer to sexual experince. See also get
traffic-free. around.) Ask Sally about how the gov-
ernmłnt works. She’s błen around. They
haveŁa voiceŁ(in something) and haveŁa say all know a lot about lfe. They’ve been
(in something) to have aŁpart inŁmakingŁa around.
dcision. I’d like to have a voice in
choosing the carpłt. John wanted to haveŁbeen had to have beenŁmisðreated;Łto
have a say in the issue aloo. He says he have beenŁ beenŁ cłeatedŁ orŁ dealt with
seldom gets to have a say. badly. (Infàrmal orŁslang.) They were
cheated out of a thousand dollars. They’vł
haveŁ a wayŁ withŁ someone ort something to
handle or dealŁ wellŁ with someone or really błen had. Look what they did to
something.Ł John has a way with ham- my car. Boy, have I błen had.
burger. It’s alwØys dłlicious. Mother has haveŁ been throughŁ theŁ mill have been
a way with Father. She’ll głt him to paint badlyŁtreated;Łhave become exhausted.
the house. (Infàrmal.) This has błen a rough dØy.
haveŁa weakness forŁ someone ortsomething I’ve really been through the mill. This
to be unabl to rsist someone or some- old car is banged up, and it hardly runs.
thing;Łto be fondŁof someone orŁsome- It’s błen through the mill.
thing;Ł to be (figuratively)b powerless haveŁbeen to hellŁandŁbyck to have sur-
against someone orŁsomething.Ł(Com- vivedŁaŁgreat deal of tràuble.Ł What a
pare thisŁwith have a soft spot in one’s terrible dØy! I fłel like I have błen to hell
heart for someone or something.) I have a and back. After a dØy of shoppng, I fłel
weakness for chocolØte. John has a weak- like I have błen to hell and back.
ness for Mary. I think he’s in love.
haveŁbØggerŁfishŁto fry Go to have other
haveŁa whaleŁofŁa time to have an excit- fish to fry.
ingŁ time; to have aŁ bigŁ time.Ł (Slang.
Whale isŁaŁwayŁof saying big.) We had haveŁbroadŁshoulders to have the ability
a whale of a time at Sally’s brthdØy party. to take onŁunpleasant respànsibilities;Łto
Enjoy your vacØtion! I hope you have a have the ability to accept criticism or re-
whale of a time. buke. (Refers to the apparent sðrength of
broad shoulders to support a heavy bur-
haveŁ a włrdŁ withŁ someone to speakŁ to
sàmeone, usuallyŁprivately. The man- dn.) No need to apologize to me. I can
ager asked to have a word with me when take it. I have broad shoulders. Karen
I was not busy. John, could I have a word mØy have broad shouldłrs, but she can’t
with you? We need to discuss somłthing. endure endless criticism.
haveŁbyckŁatŁ someone Go to get back (at haveŁcleyn hyndð to be guiltless.Ł(Refers
someone). to the blàod on the hands of a murderer.)
Don’t look at me. I have clean hands.
haveŁ bats in one’ belfry to be slightly The police took him in, but lłt him go
crazy.Ł Poor old Tom has bØts n his bel- again because he had clean hands.
fry. Don’t act so silly, John. People will
think you have bØts in your belfry. haveŁcoldŁfeet Go to get cold feet.
haveŁ beyringŁ on something to apply to haveŁ comeŁ a longŁ way to have accom-
sàmething;Łto affect or influence some- plisłedŁmuch; to have advancedŁmuch.
thing.Ł The worker’s opnion has no (Also literal.) My, how famous you are.
bearing on the boss’s decision. Does this You’ve come a long way. Tom has comł
informØtion have any bearing on the a long way in a short time.
question?
haveŁcontyctŁwithŁ someone aŁlinkŁto sàme-
haveŁbeen around to be experinced in one resultingŁinŁcommunication.Ł(Also
life.Ł(Infàrmal.ŁUse with caution—espe- literal.) I have had no contact with Bill

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