• HAVE PISSED ON A NETTLE
vb. Bk1902 sl. – to be peevish or out of temper
• HAVE PLENTY OF GUTS BUT NO BOWELS
vb. L18 colloq. – to be unfeeling, even hard, merciless
• HAVER
n. 1. 1362 Sc. & Eng. dial. – oats
n. 2. c1400 rare – an owner, a possessor
n. 3. 1703 Sc. & Eng. dial. – behaviour
n. 4. 1784 Eng. dial. – a castrated stag
n. 5. 1787 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – foolish talk, chatter, nonsense (usually plural)
n. 6. 1793 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – a piece of folly or nonsense; a whim; a piece of foolishness
n. 7. 1876 Eng. dial. – the lower part of a barn door
n. 8. 1897 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – a stupid, chattering person; a lazy, idle fellow (also used in plural)
n. 9. B1900 Sc. – hesitation accompanied with a great fuss; a person who hesitates (also used in plural)
n. 10. B1900 Eng. dial. obs. – a person of parsimonious habits
vb. 1. 1721 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to talk in a foolish, incoherent manner; to talk nonsense
vb. 2. 1866 Sc. – to make a fuss about nothing, to make a pretense of being busy; to be lazy at work; to dawdle, to potter about; to saunter, to lounge
• HAVE RABBIT EARS
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be given to eavesdropping
• HAVERAL-HASH
n. 1870 Sc. – a silly, nonsensical person; a fool
• HAVE RATS
vb. 1894 Aust. & NZ sl. – to become mad
• HAVER-CAKE
n. 1362 N. Eng. dial. – oatcake
• HAVERDEPAISE
adj. 1875 Eng. dial. – undecided; in doubt, wavering in one’s mind
• HAVERDRIL
n. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – the daffodil, Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus
• HAVERED
adj. 1812 Sc. – spoken at random or desultorily
• HAVEREL
adj. 1685 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, half-witted, nonsensical; talking foolishly
n. 1. 1721 Sc. – an ungainly person; a lounger, a lazy person; a sloven
n. 2. c1779 Sc. – a foolishly chattering or garrulous person; a fool, a stupid, half-witted person, a simpleton
n. 3. 1790 Sc. – a he-goat, after he has been gelded
vb. 1822 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – to talk nonsense, to make a fool of
• HAVERELISM
n. 1826 Sc. – a habit of foolish, nonsensical talking
• HAVERER
n. 1826 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – one who engages in empty, idle talk
• HAVERIL
adj. 1685 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – foolish, silly, nonsensical; talking foolishly
n. 1. 1801 Sc. – a stupid, half-witted person; a talkative, garrulous person; a fool
n. 2. a1818 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – one who talks without sense, one who engages in empty, idle talk
• HAVERING
adj. 1721 Sc. – chattering, nonsensical, gossiping, garrulous
n. c1800 Sc. – chatter, gossip, nonsense
• HAVERS
int. 1825 Sc. & Eng. dial. – nonsense! rubbish!
n. 1. 1787 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – foolish talk, chatter, nonsense; rarely used in singular
n. 2. 1897 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a stupid, chattering person; an incoherent or garrulous person; a lazy, idle fellow
n. 3. Bk1902 Sc. – hesitation accompanied with a great fuss; a person who hesitates
• HAVES
n. 1. 1802 Sc. – property, possessions, wealth
n. 2. 1836 colloq. – those belonging to the wealthier class
• HAVE SALT EEL FOR SUPPER
vb. E17 sl. – to be flogged
• HAVE SALT TO ONE’S KAIL
vb. 1823 Sc. – to have the necessaries of life
• HAVE SAND IN ONE’S CRAW
vb. 1881 Amer. dial. – to be courageous, tenacious, or energetic; to be determined and plucky
• HAVE SAND ON ONE’S GIZZARD
vb. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – to have courage
• HAVE SHOT ONE’S BOLT
vb. 20C Aust. sl. – to have reached the limit of one’s endurance or effort
• HAVE SIN
vb. 1928 Amer. dial. – to engage in illicit sexual relations
• HAVE SNAKES IN ONE’S BOOTS
vb. 1876 Amer. sl. – to be fidgety or uneasy; to have delirium tremens
• HAVE SOMEONE BY THE GOOLIES
vb. 1980s sl. – to have the upper hand
• HAVE SOMEONE DEAD
vb. 1900s Aust. & NZ sl. – to have at one’s mercy; to dominate completely; to astound
• HAVE SOMEONE FADED
vb. L19 US sl. – to have someone at a disadvantage
• HAVE SOMEONE IN STITCHES
vb. 1935 sl. – to make them laugh uproariously
• HAVE SOMEONE ON
vb. 1867 sl. – to deceive someone playfully
• HAVE SOMEONE ON TOAST
vb. 20C colloq. – to be in a domination position over someone; to have someone at one’s mercy
• HAVE SOMEONE’S BACK
vb. 1990 US sl. – to defend or protect someone
• HAVE SOMEONE’S GUTS
vb. 20C colloq. – to inflict severe punishment or harm on someone; usually used as a threat
• HAVE SOMEONE’S GUTS FOR GARTERS
vb. 1933 UK sl. – to inflict severe punishment or harm on someone; usually used as a threat
• HAVE SOMEONE TAPED
vb. 1914 sl. – to completely understand someone
• HAVE SOME PALINGS OFF THE FENCE
vb. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – to be mentally disturbed
• HAVE-SOMETHING
n. 1842 – one who has something
• HAVE SOMETHING GOING
vb. 1971 sl. – to have a close (sexual) relationship
• HAVE SOMETHING ON SOMEONE
vb. 1919 sl., orig. US – to possess incriminating information against someone
• HAVE SOMETHING ON THE BALL
vb. 1. 1911 US sl. – in baseball: to throw a pitch with unusual speed or an unusually deceptive motion
vb. 2. 1936 US sl. – to be especially capable, alert, efficient, etc.
• HAVE SPACE TO SELL BETWEEN THE EARS
vb. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – to be brainless
• HAVE SPEECH
vb. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to talk
• HAVE STICKY FINGERS
vb. 1967 Amer. dial. – to be thievish, to filch
• HAVE STRAWS IN ONE’S HAIR
vb. 1923 – to be insane, eccentric, or distracted
• HAVE TAKEN A LICK OF THE BLARNEY-STONE
vb. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to have the gift of flattery or persuasiveness
• HAVE THE BAG ON
vb. 1920s US criminals’ sl. – to work as a bookmaker
• HAVE THE BALLS OF A BUTTERFLY
vb. 1971 US sl. – to be cowardly
• HAVE THE BALLS OF A HUMMINGBIRD
vb. 1970 US sl. – to be cowardly
• HAVE THE BATTLE
vb. c1400 – to be victorious
• HAVE THE BIG EYE
vb. 1903 Amer. dial. – to be greedy or covetous
• HAVE THE BRITTS UP
vb. 1945 Aust. sl. – to be afraid
• HAVE THE CAFARD
vb. Amer. World War I sl. – to be fearful and sad
• HAVE THE CALL
vb. 1834 obs. – of a commercial product: to be in the greatest demand; to be the most popular; to be the favourite
• HAVE THE CALL OF THE MARKET
vb. 1834 obs. – of a commercial product: to be in the greatest demand; to be the most popular; to be the favourite
• HAVE THE DARLING PEA
vb. L19 Aust. sl. – to act eccentrically
• HAVE THE DEADWOOD ON ONE
vb. 1851 Amer. dial. – to have advantage or control, esp. incriminating evidence
• HAVE THE DINGBATS
vb. 1911 Aust. & NZ sl. – to be crazy
• HAVE THE DRY-GRINS
vb. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – said of one teased by striving to smile
• HAVE THE FLOWERS
vb. 16C Brit. euphemism – to experience the menses
• HAVE THE GALLOWS IN ONE’S FACE
vb. 1610 – to have the look of one predestined to or deserving the gallows
• HAVE THE GAME BY THE THROAT
vb. 1940s Aust. sl. – to have the situation under control
• HAVE THE GATE LOCKED AND THE KEY LOST
vb. 19C Brit. colloq. – to experience the menses
• HAVE THE GO-DOWNS
vb. 1968 Amer. dial. – to be in a depressed or gloomy mood
• HAVE THE GOODS ON
vb. 1877 sl., orig. US – to have information that gives one an advantage or hold over another
• HAVE THE HAINGLES
vb. 1808 Sc. – to be in a lazy mood
• HAVE THE HANK IN ONE’S OWN HAND
vb. 1882 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to be master of the situation; to hold one’s own
• HAVE THE HARD DROP IN ONE
vb. 1848 Ireland – to be miserly or penurious
• HAVE THE HEELS OF
vb. 1894 Sc. – to excel, to surpass, to have the best of
• HAVE THE HORN
vb. 18C Brit. colloq. – to be sexually aroused; to have an erection
• HAVE THE HOTS FOR SOMEONE
vb. 20C US sl. – to have strong sexual desire for a specific person
• HAVE THE JIMMIES
vb. 1945 Aust. sl. – to be afraid
• HAVE THE KEY OF THE STREET
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be locked out for the night upon arriving home late
• HAVE THE LAUGH OF SOMEONE
vb. 20C Brit. colloq. – to outdo, to outwit someone
• HAVE THE LAW ON SOMEONE
vb. 1800 sl. – to report someone to the police
• HAVE THE LOWER HAND
vb. 1693 – to be at a disadvantage; to be in an inferior position
• HAVE THEM BAD
vb. L19 sl. – to be experiencing something, as illness, love, sexual obsession, etc., intensely
• HAVE THE MOJO ON
vb. 1938 Amer. dial. – to have the advantage of
• HAVE THE MONKEYS
vb. 1. 1950 Amer. dial. – to have delirium tremens
vb. 2. 1950s Amer. dial. – to menstruating
• HAVE THE NEEDLE
vb. 1874 sl. – to be angry
• HAVE THE PAINTERS IN
vb. 1961 euphemism – to be in the bleed period of the menstrual cycle
• HAVE THE PENCIL PUT ON ONE
vb. 1929 US sl. – to be reported to the police
• HAVE THE POLLY-POUTS
vb. Bk1915 Amer. dial. – to be sulky
• HAVE THE PRICKER
vb. 1945 Aust. & NZ sl. – to be angry
• HAVE THE PUKES
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to vomit
• HAVE THE QUANDONGS
vb. 1910s Aust. sl. – to behave stupidly, to be stupid
• HAVE THE QUEEN FOR ONE’S AUNT
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to have the greatest happiness or distinction possible
• HAVE THE RAG ON
vb. 1. 1963 US sl. – to be distracted and irritable
vb. 2. 1974 sl. – to be experiencing the bleed period of the menstrual cycle
• HAVE THE RAGS ON
vb. c1860 colloq. – to be having one’s period
• HAVE THE RED RAG ON
vb. Bk1893 sl. – the ‘menstrual flux is on’
• HAVE THE RISE ON
vb. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – to be taller than
• HAVE THE SAUCEPAN ON THE FIRE
vb. M19 Eng. dial. – to be set on or reading for a scolding match
• HAVE THE SCREAMING ABDABS
vb. c1950 Royal Navy sl. – to be in a state of enraged frustration
• HAVE THE SHINERS FOR
vb. M19 sl., orig. US – to find attractive or appealing; to have a fancy or affection for
• HAVE THE SPIKE
vb. 1890 sl. – to be angry
• HAVE THE STREET UP FOR REPAIRS
vb. Bk1893 sl. – the ‘menstrual flux is on’
• HAVE THE SUN IN ONE’S EYES
vb. 1840 – to be intoxicated
• HAVE THE TAIL OVER THE DASHBOARD
vb. Bk1942 Amer. West. sl. – to be in high spirits
• HAVE THE TAIL OVER THE LINES
vb. 1927 Amer. dial. – to be hard to control; to be stubborn or unmanageable
• HAVE THE TAPE
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to have authority
• HAVE THE WEAK TREMBLES
vb. 1952 Amer. dial. – to be worried
• HAVE THE WILLIES
vb. 1. 1896 – to be nervous or uneasy
vb. 2. 1965 Amer. dial. – to be depressed or in a gloomy mood
• HAVE THE WOOD ON SOMEONE
vb. 1949 Aust. sl. – to have an advantage over someone
• HAVE THE WOOLIES
vb. 1900 US college sl. – to be nervous or out of sorts
• HAVE THE WORLD BY THE TAIL WITH A DOWN-HILL PULL
vb. 1878 Amer. dial. – to be in an advantageous position
• HAVE THE WRONG SLANT
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be wrong, to be mistaken
• HAVE THE WRONG SOW BY THE TAIL
vb. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to wheedle the wrong person
• HAVE TICKETS ON
vb. 1908 Aust. sl. – to have a high opinion of someone or something
• HAVE TICKETS ON ONESELF
vb. 1918 Aust. sl. – to be conceited
• HAVE TIGHT JAWS
vb. 1972 Amer. dial. – to be furious, to be very angry
• HAVE TIME TO BURN
vb. 1897 orig. US – to have time to spare
• HAVE TIN EARS
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be given to eavesdropping
• HAVE TWINS
vb. B1900 Amer. sl. – to take dinner and tea at one meal
• HAVE TWO HARES AFOOT
vb. 1658-9 obs. – to undertake too many things
• HAVE TWO LEFT FEET
vb. 1915 sl. – to be clumsy or awkward in movement
• HAVE UNDER THE COSH
vb. 1950s sl. – to have at a disadvantage
• HAVE UP
vb. 1749 sl. – to bring someone before a court to answer a charge; to arrest
• HAVE WHEELS
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be eccentric
• HAVE WHEELS IN THE HEAD
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be eccentric
• HAVE WHITE ANTS
vb. 1908 Aust. sl. – to be eccentric or dotty
• HAVE WHITE ANTS IN THE WOODWORK
vb. Bk1999 Aust. sl. – to be mentally disturbed
• HAVEY-CAVEY
adj. 1. 1874 Eng. dial. – unsteady, trembling in the balance; uncertain, undetermined, doubtful, wavering, precarious
adj. 2. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – drunken
adv. 1717 Eng. dial. – all in confusion; higgledy-piggledy
• HAVE YOUR ARSE IN A SLING
vb. 1967 UK sl. – to be in a state of defeat or depression
• HAVE YOUR COLLAR FELT
vb.1949 UK sl. – to be arrested or stopped by the police
• HAVE YOUR COLLAR TOUCHED
vb. 1949 UK sl. – to be arrested or stopped by the police
• HAVE YOUR NAME ON IT
phr. 1917 Brit. – to be meant for you
• HAVE YOUR NOSE OPEN
vb. 1957 US sl. – to be strongly attracted to
• HAVEY-QUAVEY
vb. Bk1902 Eng. dial. – to inquire, to question
• HAVEY-SCAVEY; HAVEY-SKAVEY
adv. 1717 Eng. dial. – all in confusion; higgledy-piggledy
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Lexicophilia 