design (redirected from designs)

design something for someone

to conceive of something for someone; to draw up plans of something for someone. Ann designed a new kitchen for us. Would you design a book cover for me?

design something for something

to conceive of something that is to be part of something else; to draw up plans for something that is to be part of something else. The engineers designed a cure for the rattling problem. Bob, the computer programmer, designed a fix for the bug in the program. She designed a system of shelving for the library.

have designs on someone or something

Fig. to have plans to exploit or somehow take advantage of someone or something. Mrs. Brown has designs on my apple tree. I think she's going to cut off the part that hangs over her fence. Mary has designs on Bill. I think she'll try to date him.

See also: have

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(whether) by accident or design

whether intended to be this way or not The system, whether by accident or design, benefits people who live in the cities more than people who live in the country.

See also: accident

have designs on somebody

to want to have a sexual relationship with someone She suspected that Helen had designs on her husband.

See also: have

have designs on something

to want to have something and to plan to get it I knew that David had designs on my half of the business.

See also: have

more by accident than (by) design

because of luck and not because of skill I kicked the ball and, more by accident than design, it found its way into the net.

See also: accident, more