have Van Gogh’s ear for music—be tone deaf: There is some- thing romantic about the Parisian basement dive. No matter that the pianist has Van Gogh’s ear for music have an eye for something • have an eye out for something have an eye for something—be quick to notice or appreciate smth. such as quality, etc.: She has an eye for color and style in clothes. have an eye out for something—be alert and watchful wishing to get or acquire smth.: Mary always has an eye out for bar- gains. have an eye on something • have one eye on something have an eye on something—1. choose smth. one has seen as a desirable acquisition: I have had an eye on a dress in the shop across the road for some time. 2. keep close watch upon smth.: The chances are that the authorities may have had an eye on such kind of “hardware” [torpedoes]. 3. pay careful attention to smth.; show concern for smth.: Truly successful companies have had an eye on quality for decades. have one eye on something—give only part of one’s attention to smth. while the rest is engaged elsewhere: It was a tricky experiment—he had to have one eye on the thermometer all the time. have an eye out for someone • have eyes for someone have an eye out for someone—be very alert wishing to pick out one particular person: When she was out back having a smoke … she had an eye out for him. have eyes for someone—(coll.) have a strong romantic interest in a person: Now, my sister was a beautiful girl and I knew even Mitchell had eyes for her. have an idea • have ideas have an idea —1. have a notion of smth.: We had an idea of a law firm that tossed out the usual law firm trappings: no mahogany or marble; no suits unless that’s what you prefer to wear. 2. think or suppose smth.: I heard what he said to you. I had an idea you weren’t going to take it lying down. have ideas —entertain undesirable or harmful notions: That’s the second happy couple I’ve seen busted up and it’s cured me if I ever had ideas . I’d no more marry with a war on than jump over the moon. have an in • have an out have an in—(coll.) have influence with smb. of authority: Sorry, I don’t have an in , but I know someone who does. have an out(coll.) have a means of escape or avoiding smth.: No matter what happens, he always has an out . have an in with someone • have it in for someone have an in with someone(coll.) have influence with smb. of authority: He had an in with the city government, but that doesn’t mean they knew everything he did. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have a run-in with someone—(coll.) have a troublesome encounter or a row with a person: Your father and I have many run-ins these days. He can’t get it into his thick skull that I have come of age. have it in for someone—show ill will towards smb.; intend to do harm to a person: I just don’t want to lose my funding because she has it in for me badmouthing me to everyone in the department. See also: be in with someone / be with someone. have an influence on someone • have influence with someone have an influence on someone—have an effect on a person; cause smb. to act or behave in a certain way: Some songs even have violent lyrics which can have a bad influence on young people. have influence with someone—have the power to affect the opinion of a person, especially smb. in authority: He had no power, no elected office … but he had influence with those who did. have an interest in something • have interests in something have an interest in something—1. be keen to know or learn about smth.: None of them had the slightest interest in music. 2. want smth. to be done: Governments have an interest in seeing minimum wages kept above subsistence level. 3. have a share in the ownership of a business: No resident of the Isle of Man is entitled to have an interest in the company. have interests in something— = have an interest in something 3: The region obtains much of its oil from Alaska, where the combined group would have sizeable interests . have an itching palm • one’s palm itches have an itching palm —(coll.) have greed for money (being susceptible to bribery, etc.): We guessed he had an itching palm and was hoping to receive a present for his “advice.” one’s palm itches—1. said of a strong compulsive urge to do smth., especially to strike a person: Her palm itched to slap the bland indifference from his face. Cf.: have itchy feet—(UK coll.) be unable to stay in one place; have an urge to travel: After three days we got really itchy feet and could not wait longer. 2. is used of an old superstition that if one’s palm itches one is going to receive money: Unfortunately, every time my palm itches it’s cause money is leaving my hands. have an option on something • have the option of something have an option on something—have the right to buy smth. at a certain price, usually within a certain period of time: If I decide to sell the house you shall have first option on it. have the option of something—have the ability to choose smth. in preference to smth. else: A strike or war is preventive if the enemy still has the option of desisting from his planned aggression. have bigger fish to fry • have other fish to fry have bigger fish to fry—have a much more pressing issue to attend to: If you think this case doesn’t matter—that the Supreme Court has bigger fish to fry —think again. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase big fish—an important person in a company or an organ- ization: Basically this guy was a big fish in the British Gov- ernment. He wrote a couple of books… have other fish to fry—(coll.) have other business to attend to (also: have other irons in the fire): I can’t deal with that just now. I have other fish to fry . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase there are other fish in the sea— there may be many other people to choose from: It’s too bad that your secretary quit, but there are plenty of other fish in the sea . have both feet on the ground • stand on one’s own two feet have both feet on the ground—(also: have one’s feet on the ground) have a sensible and realistic attitude to life: Catherine in her spiritual writings has both feet on the ground , she lives in the real world, she has uncommon common sense. have an eye for something – 166 –