have dibs on

Idioms  

1. Have a first claim on something, as in If you don't want it, I have dibs on the next available apartment. This term was originally schoolyard slang. [c. 1930]

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Example Sentences

Mr. Forrest, Janet Maslin wrote in a review in The New York Times, “would be the surprise hit of the movie if Miss Midler didn’t herself have dibs on that position.”

From New York Times • Jun. 27, 2023

And, fortunately, the Seahawks have dibs on the multitasking quarterback.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 4, 2014

Isn’t it nice to know the biologists don’t have dibs on one of the most famous scientists in history?

From Scientific American • Feb. 10, 2013

Arrive early and you’ll have dibs on the Oriental Omelet, a fragrant mix of cardamom, rose petals, milk and nuts.

From New York Times • Jun. 14, 2012

Why can’t I have dibs on a guy I like, whether he likes me or not?

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée