have on

British  

verb

1. (usually adverb) to wear

2. (usually adverb) to have (a meeting or engagement) arranged as a commitment

   what does your boss have on this afternoon?

3. informal (adverb) to trick or tease (a person)

4. (preposition) to have available (information or evidence, esp when incriminating) about (a person)

   the police had nothing on him, so they let him go

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have on Idioms  

1. have something on . See have nothing on , def. 3.

2. have someone on ; put someone on . Deceive or fool someone, as in There was no answer when I called; someone must be having me on , or You can't mean you're taking up ballet—you're putting me on! [ Colloquial ; mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

In this Money Talks: Elizabeth Spiers is joined by psychologist Dr. Leanne ten Brinke whose new book, Poisonous People, explores the impact that people with psychopathic and related personality traits have on our everyday lives.

From Slate • Apr. 14, 2026

Investors are also grappling with questions about what impact artificial intelligence will have on the labor market and what’s next from the Federal Reserve.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Look at the stranglehold ridesharing apps have on hailing a cab.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

He is worried about the impact it could have on his health and said he does not "think patients should be treated as pawns, like in a game of chess".

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

I set the biggest pot I have on the stove and start pouring in the contents of the water bucket.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

Related Words

• bear
• carry
• cover
• display
• don
• get into
• get on
• put on
• show
• slip on
• sport
• wrap