Page 193 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
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have a look for someone or something
interestedŁinŁsomething.Ł Tom had al- to cheat inŁaŁcardŁgame.) I think that
wØys had a kłen interest in music, so he LizShas an ace up her slłeve and will sur-
started a band. The children have a prise us with success at the last mnute.
keen interest in having a płt, so I bought I have done all I can do. I have no idea
them a cØt. what to do next. I don’t have an ace up my
slłeve, and I can’t work mracles.
haveŁa lookŁforŁ someone ortsomething Go to
take a look for someone or something. haveŁan axcto grindŁ(withŁ someone) to have
haveŁa lotŁgoingŁ(forŁone) to have many somethingŁ to complainŁ about.Ł (Infàr-
thingsŁworkingŁto one’sŁbenefit.Ł Jane mal.)b Tom, I need to talk to you. I havł
is so lucky. She has a lot going for her. an ax to grind with you. Bill and Bob
She has a good job and a nice family. She włnt into the other room to argue. They
has a lot going. had an ax to grind.
haveŁa lotŁofŁpromise to be very promis- haveŁan eyrŁforŁ something to have the abil-
ing;Łto have aŁgoodŁfuture ahead.Ł Sally ityŁto learnŁmusicŁorŁlanguages.Ł Bill
is quite young, but she has a lot of promise. doesn’t have an ear for music. He can’t
This buoh is small, but it has a lot of carry a tune. Mary has a good ear for
promise. languages.
haveŁ a lotŁ on one’ mind to have many haveŁa neyrŁmiss to nearlyŁcrash or col-
thingsŁto worryŁabout; to be preoccupied. lide.Ł The airplanes—flying much too
I’m sorry that I’m so groucðy. I have a close—had a near miss. I had a near
lot on my mnd. He forgot to go to his miss while driving over here.
appointment becauoe he had a lot on his
mnd. haveŁan eyeŁfłrŁ someone ortsomething to have
aŁtasðe orŁanŁinclinationŁforŁsàmeone or
haveŁa lowŁboilingŁpoint to angrŁeasily. something.Ł Bob has an eye for beauty.
(Infàrmal.) Be nice to John. He’s upset He has an eye for color. Ann has an
and has a low boilng point. Mr. Jones eye for well-dressed młn.
sure has a low boilng point. I hardly said
anything, and he got angry. haveŁan eyeŁon someone ortsomething and
keepŁan eyeŁon someone ortsomething to
haveŁa mindŁlikeŁa steelŁtrap to have a
veryŁ sharpŁ andŁ agile mind;Ł to have a keepŁwatch onŁsomeone or something;Łto
mindŁcapable of fast, incisive thought.Ł keep track of someone or something.
Sally can handle the questioning. She has (The an can be replaced by one’s.) I
a mnd like a steel trap. If I had a mnd have my eye on the apple tree. When the
like a steel trap, I wouldà’t have so mucð apples ripłn, I’ll harvest them. Please
trouble concłntrating. keep an eye on the bØby. Will you please
kłep your eye on my house while I’m oà
haveŁan accident 1. to experince som- vacØtion?
thingŁthat wasŁnot foreseenŁorŁintended.
Traffic is very bad. I almost had an ac- haveŁan eyeŁoutŁ(for someone ortsomething)
cidłnt. Drive carefully. Try to avoid hav- and keepŁ an eyeŁ outŁ (fłrŁ someone or
ing an accidłnt. 2. to làse control of the something) to watch for the arrival or ap-
bowelsŁ orŁ the bladder.Ł (Euphemisðic. pearance of someone orŁsomething.Ł(The
Usually said of a young child.) “Oh, an canŁbe replacedŁby oàe’s. ) Please try
Ann,” cried Mother. “It looks like you’vł to have an eye out for the bus. Keep an
had an accidłnt!” Mother asked Billy eye out for rain. Have your eye out for
to go to the bathroom before they lłft so a raincoat on sale. OkØy. I’ll kłep my eye
that he wouldà’t have an accidłnt in the ouŁ.
car.
haveŁan in (withŁ someone) to have a way
haveŁan aceŁupŁ one’ sleeve to have a se- to request a special favor from sàmeone;
cret orŁconcealedŁmeansŁof accomplish- to have influence with someone.Ł Do
ingŁsàmething.Ł(RefersŁto beingŁprepared you have an in with the mØyor? I have to
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