are having at it , and she is barely able to leave the bed and hide. make a go of it—(coll.) make smth. succeed (also: make a do of it) There seemed every reason for Tilly and Steven to make a go of it abroad. Note: The expression is not equivalent in meaning to the phrase make it go—(coll.) make smth. function: When he got started in that business he found he was really able to make it go . have a good bang for one’s buck • have a good run for one’s money have a good bang for one’s buck—(coll.) get a good value for one’s money (also: get a good bang for one’s buck): Russ has shown some pretty strong statistics that say we do have a good bang for our buck . have a good run for one’s money—(also: get a good run for one’s money) 1. face a strong challenge or competition from a person: I was a lot bigger than Roy, but I would’ve had a good run for my money if we’d have fought. 2. derive much satis- faction or enjoyment in return for one’s outlay or efforts: I have had a good run for my money as a correspondent. …the need for first-hand reporting from abroad is more important than ever. have a good head • have a good mind have a good head —1. (also: have a good head on one’s shoulders) be smart and intelligent: I searched for Ann, because she has a good head and knows a lot about medicine. 2. (for) have a special talent in a certain area: You’ve got a good head for business, Thompson. It’s the rest of you that worries me. 3. said of beer with good foam at the top: It was the first brasserie to captivate Jean … it still retains the flavor of Alsace, where the beer always has a good head. have a good mind—(followed by Infinitive) be strongly inclined to do smth.: I have a good mind to find these iden- tity thieves and ask how they’re getting money out of my account. have a good time • make good time have a good time —(also: have a good time of it) enjoy oneself: Gosh, he’s always reading now. It’s not my idea of having a good time in vacation. make good time —(also: make time) accomplish a distance in a short time; travel fast: I was leaping over mounds of snow and branches and I was making good time . have a hand for something • have a hand in something have a hand for something— be skilful at dealing with smth.: A jockey must have a hand for all sorts of horses, and in the case of two and three year olds a very good hand it must be. have a hand in something—(also: have a finger in something) be involved in smth.; play a role in smth.: “It’s still murder.” “That’s what’s riding me,” he said. “I feel I almost had a hand in it .” have a hard day • have a hard time have a hard day—said of a busy day full of hard work: You look tired, dear. Did you have a hard day at the office? have a hard time—experiecnce difficulties or suffer for a period of time: I have had a hard time buying a house, even though my credit history is spotless. have a head • have a head on one’s shoulders have a head —(coll.) suffer from a hangover: Tom has a head this morning and won’t be coming into work. have a head on one’s shoulders—(coll.) be very smart and intelligent: He has a head on his shoulders and can be trusted to do any job well. have a head for something • have a mind to do something have a head for something—have a special talent in a certain area: A good editor has a head for business. It does no one any good if the books an editor signs up lose money for a publisher. have a mind to do something—consider doing smth.: There are a few articles that I have a mind to create, and a few exist- ing articles that I have a mind to expand considerably. have a heat on • heat is on, the have a heat on —(U.S. sl.) be alcohol or drug intoxicated: A few years ago this dump was full of dope. Every other man you met had a heat on . heat is on, the—1. said when strong pressure is brought to bear: She says now that the heat is on , the people can depend on the union to stand up strong at the negotiation table. 2. (U.S. coll.) said when police activities or investigations are at their peak: The heat is on in Baltimore. The drug war is being lost … and a desperate mayor wants the crime rates down before the election. have a heavy hand • have a light hand have a heavy hand— be harshly oppressive; inclined to pun- ish severely: Sykes was known for having a heavy hand . Few of his employees stayed more than a year or two. have a light hand—get good results handling smth.: She is very reliable and she has as light a hand with pastry as anyone I ever knew. See also: heavy in hand / heavy-handed. have a large practice • have much practice have a large practice—(of a doctor, lawyer, etc.) have many regular patients or clients: This doctor has a large practice and is regarded as an able practitioner. have much practice—engage in frequent and systematic exer- cise of an activity: I haven’t had much practice in speaking French lately. have a laugh at someone • have the laugh of someone have a laugh at someone—find smb. amusing; ridicule a per- son: You let them in to have a laugh at them or you let them in because you want to listen to what they’re saying. have the laugh of someone—turn the laugh against smb.: “Why, he always used to laugh at you as the dunce of the fam- ily!” “I know, and now I shall have the laugh of him, shan’t I?” have a lead in something • have a lead of something have a lead in something—be in the first place with regard to smth.: Russia had a lead in space and submarine technol- ogy. have a lead of something—be ahead of other contestants in terms of time, space, etc.: Hobbs has a lead of just 35 votes on Independent candidate Gleeson. have a leg to stand on • have legs have a leg to stand on—(of arguments, claims, etc.) be sup- ported by facts or sound reasons (usually negat.): He said that the government did not have a leg to stand on in regard to that bill. have legs—(of a book, film, etc.) have lasting popularity; be – 163 – have a leg to stand on