had

had it coming (informal)

if someone had it coming, something bad happened to them which they deserved. I wasn't at all surprised to hear he'd been fired. With all that unexplained time off he had it coming to him. (often + to)

See also: coming

have [done/seen/had etc.] more something than someone has had hot dinners (British & Australian)

to have done, seen, had etc. something many times, so that you have had more experience of it than the person you are talking to. Young man, I've been to more football matches than you've had hot dinners, so you don't have to explain the rules of the game to me.

See also: dinner, done, has, hot, more, seen

have had a bellyful of something (informal)

if you have had a bellyful of an unpleasant situation or someone's bad behaviour, you have had much too much of it and it has made you angry. He's probably had a bellyful of your moaning.

have had a good innings (British & Australian)

to have had a long and active life or a long and successful period of time in a job. I've had a good innings but my old heart is very weak now. He's had a good innings as club president.

See also: good

have had your chips

1. if you have had your chips, something bad is going to happen to you, usually a punishment for something bad you have done. When the police knocked on his door early in the morning, he knew he'd had his chips.

2. to miss an opportunity to achieve something you want. John's had his chips. I gave him the chance of a promotion and he threw it away.

See also: chip

have had your fill

to have had enough to eat or drink. No more pudding thanks, I've had my fill.

See also: fill

have had your fill of something

if you have had your fill of an unpleasant situation, you will not accept it any longer. People have had their fill of empty promises and want action.

See also: fill

have had it (informal)

1. if you say that if something happens, someone has had it, you mean that they will die or they will fail in what they are trying to do. When they run out of ammunition, they've had it. The course is hard, and if you can't face that fact, you've had it.

2. to be tired or bored with what you are doing and decide to stop it. I've had it for today. Let's go home.

3. if something has had it, it is so damaged it cannot be repaired. I think this washing machine's had it.

have had it (up to here) (informal)

to be so angry about something that you do not want to continue with it or even think about it any more. I've had it! From now on they can clear up their own mess. I've had it up to here with lawyers! (often + with)

have had its chips (informal)

something that has had its chips is going to end because it is not wanted or needed any more. It looks as though the mainframe computer has had its chips.

See also: chip

have had its/your day

to be much less popular than before. The general view in the country is that socialism has had its day. She was a best-selling author in the 1950s and 60s, but I think she's had her day.

See also: day

have had more than your fair share of something

to have had more of something unpleasant than other people when you do not deserve it. Jane's had more than her fair share of bad luck recently, what with losing her job and getting divorced.

See also: fair, more, share

went/had gone out with the ark (British & Australian, humorous)

if an object or method went out with the ark, it is not used any more. These old manual printing presses went out with the ark - everything's computerized these days.

See also: ark, gone

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been had

to have been deceived. If you paid much for this radio, you've been had, pal!

See also: been

had better

should or must. I thought I had better destroy the list so that no one else would see it. You'd better get moving if you want to catch your train.

Usage notes: had is sometimes not said: If we have a problem you better hope somebody is there to help you.

See also: better

have (just about) had it

1. to not be willing or able to continue doing something. We've been to three museums today and I've just about had it.

2. to fail to work. The vacuum cleaner just quit — I think it's had it.

Usage notes: usually said of something the no longer works because of too much use

have had it with someone/something

to not be willing to continue to deal with someone or something. After eight years in office, he said he had had it with reporters.

Usage notes: sometimes used with up to here for emphasis: I've had it up to here with his constant complaining.68% + spoken--SL, 7/02