or an affectionate relationship with a person (also: have a thing going with someone): Is it true that Sammy has something going with Linda? have something handed on a plate • have something on one’s plate have something handed on a plate—achieve or get smth. with too little effort: Car factories of Japan will have a new market handed to them on a plate . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have one’s lunch handed to one— be outperformed and shown up by smb. better: Certainly to have your lunch handed to you by a thirteen year old would not be something you would want to advertise to your peers. have something on one’s plate—have a lot of things or prob- lems to deal with: I can’t possibly take a holiday at the moment; I’ve got far too much on my plate . have something in one’s brain • have something on the brain have something in one’s brain—(also: keep something in one’s brain) retain smth. in one’s memory: I had the great benefit of having had them [script lines] in my brain for a few years. have something on the brain—(sl.) be obsessed with an idea, etc.: He blames everything that goes wrong on the taxes. He’s got taxation on the brain . See also: have one’s mind on something / have something on one’s mind. have something in one’s hands • have something on one’s hands have something in one’s hands—1. be in possession of smth.; have smth. in reserve: After paying the debt in full, with the accumulated interest, he still had in his hands about $1,000. 2. have complete control of smth.: I thought long and hard about how I could introduce you to the teachers who had my fate in their hands . Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase have something in hand—1. have smth. under con- trol: There was a little rioting, but the police soon had the sit - uation in hand . 2. = have something in one’s hands 1: The money question had also to be gone into: what he still had in hand ; what balance lay in the London bank. have something on one’s hands—said of smth. remaining under one’s care as a burden or unwelcome responsibility: When the house is sold I will have the furniture on my hands . have something in one’s sights • set one’s sights on something have something in one’s sights—1. (of a hunter, etc.) take aim at smth.: I had the deer in my sights , but it moved before I could fire. 2. (of celestial objects) observe through the telescope: I tried the Crab nebula first and soon had it in my sights . 3. regard smth. as a prospective objective: Today Ireland is look- ing forward to the best future we’ve had in our sights for gen- erations. set one’s sights on something—1. see smth.: When I set my sights on this guitar, I was hoping for a modern-production guitar that caught the sound of the old ragtime. 2. = have something in one’s sights 3: They may have to set their sights on something less ambitious. have something in stock • have something in store have something in stock—(of merchandise) be available imme- diately for sale or distribution: We do not have a shirt of this size in stock now, but we can order it for you. have something in store—1. have smth. in reserve in case of need: After the hardships of the previous winter, you now have plenty of food in store for the months ahead. 2. (of events, conditions, etc.) be waiting to happen: We’ve had all kinds of weather and there’s no telling what the weather has in store for us in mid–June. have something on • have something on one have something on—1. be wearing smth.: She was very pretty and had a lovely dress on . 2. be busy with smth.: I’m sorry, I can’t come, I have two concerts on next week. have something on one—(of money, etc.) carry about (also: have something on one’s person): The man had a credit card on him that the police believed was stolen. have something under one’s hat • keep something under one’s hat have something under one’s hat—(coll.) have knowledge of smth.: He had something under his hat ; a tip-off straight from headquarters, news of high international importance. keep something under one’s hat—(coll.) keep smth. a secret; keep smth. to oneself: “Nothing about that in the papers, is there?” “Not yet. Keep it under your hat .” See also: pick something out of a hat / pull something out of a hat. have the advantage of something • have the advan- tage over something have the advantage of something—possess smth. that is useful or is likely to bring success: Galsworthy’s plays have the advan - tage of acting well—unlike much literary drama. have the advantage over something—be better, stronger, etc. than another item of the same kind: The new system of air cleaning has many advantages over the old one. have the baby blues • have the blues have the baby blues —(coll.) feel sad or depressed when preg- nant: After seven months, Karly had the baby blues . She was feeling sad. have the blues —(coll.) feel sad or depressed: Doctors told her she just had the blues , and although they offered her med- ications, they did not keep her in the hospital. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have a blue—(Austral. sl.) get into an argument; start a fight or brawl: There is an old bloke who sits on the verandah of the pub who won’t drink inside because he had a blue with the publican. have the best of it • make the best of it have the best of it—1. have the advantage: Though the inside passengers had had the best of it during the night, the outside passengers had the best of it now. 2. be the winner: In terms of overall championship wins, the Dutch had the best of it as they took three of the four titles on offer. make the best of it—accept an unfavorable situation and try to obtain the best possible results from it: It was anything but the perfect trip, but we made the best of it thanks to Joe. See also: do one’s worst / make the worst of it. have the ear of someone • reach the ear of someone have the ear of someone—have smb.’s favorable attention (especially from smb. in a position of power): He has been one of Italy’s most influential figures, a man who is said to have had the ear of any Italian prime minister. reach the ear of someone—(also: reach the ears of someone) 1. (of a sound) be perceived by a person: Another sound had reached my ear ; an unmistakable one this time—the rattling of a key in its lock. 2. (of news, rumors, etc.) come to smb.’s knowledge: Sometimes the opposition will debate a piece of have something handed on a plate – 170 –