IDIOM OF THE DAY - {HAVE}
1 '... had better ...'
[(Someone) ought to (do something)]
‘I’d better check that I’ve locked all the doors before I go out.’ /
‘You’d better not go there this evening—/ think he’ll be busy.’
*Sometimes used as a threat: ‘I’ll pay you back on Friday.’ ‘You’d
better!’ / ‘I promise I’ll return the car.’ ‘You better had!’
2 'Have ..., will ...'
[An expression used to show a willingness or ability (to do something, especially go somewhere), because you have (something)]
‘“Have car, will travel” as the saying goes—so we’ve been to Scotland for the week-end!’
3 'I have and I haven’t'
[An ambiguous, rather defensive, reply to a question, showing that the
speaker has partly done or undertaken something, and often used when the
speaker purposely does not want to be clear]
‘Have you spoken to Mr
Smith about a pay rise?’ ‘I have and 1 haven’t; not directly, yet, but I
promise to tomorrow.’ / ‘Have you got any work for me to mark?’
‘Well, I have and I haven’t.’
4 'I wouldn’t have it if you gave it to (or paid) me!'
[I’m not accepting what you’re offering]
‘That car of yours is so old, I wouldn’t have it if you gave it to me!’
5 'I’m (he’s/she’s) not having it'
[I’m (he/she is) not tolerating something]
‘I tell you, I don’t want any of that kind of nonsense going on in my house. I’m just not having it.’
6 'Let’s be having you'
[A firm request to move somewhere quickly: used by attendants at a
public place, foremen to workers, and supposedly by policemen]
‘Come along now, let’s be having you, please!’ r ‘Ladies and gentlemen, let’s be having you: the museum closes in ten minutes.’
7 'What have you'
[Other similar people, things, etc.]
On sale at the jumble sale were clothes, toys, bric-a-brac and what have you.
8 'You shouldn’t have'
[It is very kind of you: used in accepting a gift]
‘Auntie, we’ve brought you some flowers, and all the family hope you’ll
get better soon.’ ‘Oh, you shouldn’t have! Aren’t they lovely!’
taken from the GLOBAL ELT ENGLISH IDIOMS DICTIONARY
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