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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