have one’s nose in something • put one’s nose into something have one’s nose in something—(coll.) read smth. very atten- tively: Friends of mine have a ten year-old son who always has his nose in a book. put one’s nose into something—(coll.) interfere in a matter which does not concern one (also: poke one’s nose into some- thing ): The issue has flowered into a discussion about Kroger’s right to put his nose into editorial matters. have one’s wits about one • have the wit to do something have one’s wits about one—be alert and ready to act in a difficult situation: In this part of the city you must have your wits about you all the time. have the wit to do something—have enough intelligence and understanding to do smth.: The Aztecs had the wit to leave a wide open space all round the monument. have power over someone • have someone in one’s power have power over someone—have control over a person; be able to command smb.: He had power over me as my employer; I was in a totally vulnerable situation. have someone in one’s power—be able to do what one wishes with a person: I had her in my power — up a tree, as the Amer- icans say. have regard for something • have regard to something have regard for something—(also: have respect for something) honor or respect smth.: If you had any regard for your good name you would not act in that manner. have regard to something—(also: have respect to something) take smth. into account: When considering the precise mean- ing of a word we must have regard to the context in which it is used. have respect for something • have respect to something have respect for something—(also: have regard for something) honor or respect smth.: Since some of the members have no respect for the law, they refuse to enter into a legal marriage. have respect to something—(also: have regard to something) take smth. into account: In fixing the remuneration we shall have respect to the work entailed and the qualifications of the person appointed. have seen better days • have seen its day have seen better days—showing signs of wear; be no longer in such a good condition as it used to be: When Lori and Kit visit Aldercot Hall, they find a dark, dreary mansion that has evidently seen better days . have seen its day —be no longer effective; outlive its useful- ness: These events led many to conclude that freedom had seen its day , and that the future belonged to the hard men in Berlin. Franklin Roosevelt refused to accept that democracy was finished. have someone at one’s command • have someone under one’s command have someone at one’s command—have people who are ready to obey one’s orders: The king had now at his command a body of Janissaries ready to carry out his personal will. have someone under one’s command—command people under the authority conferred by official position: Kluge now had under his command all the German armies in France. have someone do something • have someone doing something have someone do something—1. (also: get someone to do some- thing ) cause a person to do smth.: Stupid me, I did not have him sign any type of contract or promise to pay letter. 2. expe- rience or suffer smth. done by another person: We had a beggar come up to us and there was a man sleeping in the stair well. We did not feel safe at all. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase one will not have someone do something—one will not allow a person to do smth.: Tell him you understand that he is unhappy but you will not have him speak to you that way. have someone doing something—1. cause a person to do smth. as a result of one’s activity: If you play your radio on the beach, you’ll have everyone complaining . 2. = have someone do some- thing 2: I couldn’t bear to have them talking once the film had begun, so I turned around and did my heroic best: asked them to talk a little softly. Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase one will not have someone doing something—one will not allow a person to do smth.: And while I do not care much what people think of me, I will not have them thinking badly of you. have someone in • have someone on have someone in—1. invite a person into one’s home: We had some friends in on Saturday night to watch the rugby and stay for dinner. 2. arrange for builders, decorators, etc. to come into one’s home to do some work: We had some problem in the bathroom and we had a plumber in to fix a pipe. have someone on—(coll.) mislead smb. deliberately; deceive or swindle a person: She seemed a nice person; but for all I knew she might be a brilliant actress and was just having me on . have someone on a string • have someone on the line have someone on a string—have a person under one’s full control: He was like a little puppy dog, and she had him on a string ; he was putty in her hands. have someone on the line—have a person on the phone: I have called at all hours and almost always have someone on the line in under two minutes. have someone’s number • have someone’s number on it have someone’s number—(coll.) know smb.’s real motives or intentions when dealing with that person: “I think I’ve got your number , Mr. Omnipotent Superbeing,” she said gently, “You don’t fool me for a minute.” have someone’s number on it—(of a bomb, bullet, etc.) be intended by fate for a particular person (also: have someone’s name on it): If it’s got your number on it , you’ll get it, no matter where you are. have something going for one • have something going with someone have something going for one—(coll.) have ability, talent, good looks, etc. that help one to be successful: Bowser definitely has something going for him, and it’s a something that seems to appeal to many. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have it coming to one—used of smb. about to suffer pun- ishment or some unpleasant consequences: John has it coming to him. He caused these problems by not being involved enough and making some bad decisions. have something going with someone—(coll.) have a romance – 169 – have something going for one