Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase hard act to follow—(also: tough act to follow) used of an out- standing individual or a particularly good performance that will be difficult to emulate: The previous night’s incredible jazz ses- sion was a hard act to follow . hard time • hard times hard time—1. an unpleasant or distressing experience: Dozier had a hard time finding a publisher for her book. 2. (Underworld) a prison sentence: How much hard time does he have behind him? hard times —a period of economic depression, poverty, etc.: Maritime businesses took advantage of the hard times by launching a campaign to break major union organizations. hardly work • work hard hardly work—do very little work: She is a decent kid with bad luck … she hardly works now, and I doubt she will be with us for much longer. work hard—work with all one’s energy: You will be in the limelight for the first three months—time during which you should work hard to create a positive impression. hardware store • software store hardware store—(U.S.) a store that sells tools and imple- ments, usually made of metal (such as hinges, screws, ham- mers, etc.): We use chains that can be purchased at a hardware store . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase computer hardware store—a store handling computer- related equipment: I just want to work in a computer hardware store putting people’s computers together. software store—a store marketing computer-related prod- ucts: Today, software comes loaded on the hard drive of your computer or in a box from a software store . has your cat died • her rabbit died has your cat died —(UK) said to a person whose trousers are too short or are pulled up: Now my Mum would say, “Has your cat died dear? Your trousers are at half mast.” her rabbit died —(dated euph.) said of a woman who was found to be pregnant: I just recently found out that her rabbit died . I’m finally going to be an aunt! have a ball • have balls have a ball —(coll.) have a good time; enjoy oneself: They had tea in the Japanese Garden, and then drove out to the beach. She was having a ball . have balls —(coarse sl.) have great courage or audacity: It’s for sure that Martin has balls to cut class again, after we were caught yesterday. have a big time • make the big time have a big time —(coll.) enjoy oneself (also: have a great time): Christ, doesn’t time flit by when you’re having a big time and all? Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have a big day—used of a day on which important things happen: We are going to have a big day tomorrow; we are going to hike up to base camp at almost 14000 feet. make the big time—(also: reach the big time) gain recogni- tion; win success: Caryl had finally made the big time as a criminal…. Local newspapers carried the story on their front pages. have a bite • have bite have a bite—1. (coll.) have a snack; eat some food: We planned to stop somewhere on the road and have a bite of supper. 2. (of cold air or wind) have keen cutting effect: The cold night air had a bite in it. 3. (of food or drink) taste pleas- antly pungent or spicy; be laced with alcohol: John took a cautious sip. The drink had a bite . 4. (coll.) posses special attractiveness: In spite of her dark hair and her Mediterranean beauty she has a bite about her that can only be British. have bite —1. = have a bite 2: The day was bright, the sky a high and crystal blue. The chill in the air had bite . 2. = have a bite 3: The pasta has bite and spins onto the fork without complication. 3. said of the seizure of the bait in fishing: From the first cast, I had bite . But, it didn’t seem to be bass. 4. = have a bite 4: The program to give the whole European market a non-inflationary money still has bite . have a bottle • have a lot of bottle have a bottle—have a drink; take part in social drinking: There’s a definite feeling of anticipation here as the boss slips his credit card behind the bar or your mate says “Go on, let’s have a bottle .” have a lot of bottle —(coll.) have the courage to do smth. difficult: Not many people could lose six world finals and come back for more—Jimmy has a lot of bottle . Cf.: lose one’s bottle—(coll., also: bottle it) lose one’s courage: That conservative fool lost his bottle when he tried to face down the coal mining unions. have a crow to pluck • pluck a pigeon have a crow to pluck—state and settle some disagreeable issue with smb.: When they have taken their places, she said abruptly: “I have a crow to pluck with you.” pluck a pigeon —(sl.) swindle an ignorant or credulous per- son: A noble Duke or Lord, would have as little scruple in plucking a pigeon as their inferiors. have a dash at something • make a dash at something have a dash at something—(coll.) make an attempt to do smth.: He decided to have a dash at surgical intervention and risk the consequences. make a dash at something—1. = have a dash at something: It was his habit, when traveling in any foreign country, to make a dash at French, even if the people understood English. 2. make a sudden vigorous assault or endeavor: Allen drew up his men and announced his intention to make a dash at the fort without waiting for more force. have a down on someone • have an up on someone have a down on someone—(also: have a downer on someone) have a grudge against smb.; dislike a person: For some reason or other he had a down on me and I grew to hate him. have an up on someone—have an advantage over a person: I’m not bilingual though, so you do have an up on me. have a drop • have the drop have a drop —(coll.) take a small quantity of liquor: I have had a drop , but I had not been drinking. have the drop —(coll.) have an advantage over a person: The boys from that team have the drop on their opponents. have a drop too much • have a glass too much have a drop too much —(coll. understatement) be rather drunk (also: take a drop too much): One night I had a drop too much and there was a bit of a row. have a glass too much —(coll.) be drunk: The policeman said that Peter had a glass too much . Of course, what he had really had was a pair of glasses too little. have a face as long as a fiddle • have a face made of a fiddle have a face as long as a fiddle—look dismal or extremely – 161 – have a face as long as a fiddle