have it

Idioms  

1. Receive or learn something, as in I have it on the best authority that he's running again . [Late 1600s]

2. Possess a solution, understand, as in Is this the new phone number? Do I have it straight? or I think I have it now . [Mid-1800s]

3. Take it, as in There's some ice cream left; go ahead and have it . This usage is always put as an imperative. [Second half of 1300s]

4. Have the victory, win, as in We've counted the votes and the nays have it . The related expressions have it over someone or have it all over someone mean “to be superior to someone.” For example, Jane has it all over Mary when it comes to reading aloud . [Early 1900s]

5. let someone have it . Give a beating, scolding, or punishment. For example, When she gets home Dad will let her have it . [Mid-1800s]

6. have it off . Have sexual intercourse, as in The two dogs were having it off in the backyard . [ Colloquial ; early 1900s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with have it ; not have it .

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

have it

"People don't have the money in their pocket they once did and if they don't have it they can't spend it with us in hospitality or in retail," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

I mean, we’re gonna have it written into our contracts going forward that like it can’t be in our music videos.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

“I just heard about it. If they’d like to have it, I think it would be held in China.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

"We would have it to talk about nuclear weapons and denuclearization."

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

“You still have it? I never saw a boat move so fast and so silent.”

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

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