have designs on

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: design, have

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have designs on somebody

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

See also: design, 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: design, have