A-Z Database

A-Z Database

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Have a bash/dash

see Bash/bash on


Have a beef with someone

A beef is an argument or disagreement with someone and is an Americanism that dates from the 19th century and has connections to beefy meaning burly t...

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Have a cadenza

see Cadenza


Have a foot in the door

see Foot in the door


Have a good mind to

Have a strong intention to say or to do something; the expression dates from the early 1500s.


Have a heart

In the sense of an injunction to lighten up or go easy dates from the early 20th century.


Have a leak

see Take or have a leak


Have a monkey on one’s back

To have a monkey on one’s back is to have a very irritating, ongoing problem. The expression dates from the mid-19th century when it originally meant...

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Have a screw loose

To be mad or insane is the opposite of having one’s head screwed on the right way, both metaphors date from the late 18th/early 19th century, hence, s...

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Have a sweet tooth

see Sweet tooth


Have a tiger by the tail

see Catch/have a tiger by the tail


Have a tilt at

see At full tilt


Have an axe to grind

see Axe to grind


Have bigger/other fish to fry

see Bigger/other fish to fry


Have egg on one’s face

see Egg on one’s face


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