have it in for (someone)

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have it in for (someone)

To persistently try or desire to criticize, cause harm to, or harass someone, especially due to a grudge. This is the third time in a row my professor has given me an F on my paper. I think he has it in for me or something! John's had it in for her ever since she forced him to sell his shares in the business.

See also: for, have

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

have it in for someone

to be mad at someone; to wish to harm someone. Jane seems to have it in for Jerry. I don't know why. Max has it in for his old girlfriend since she broke up with him.

See also: for, have

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

have it in for

Intend to harm, especially because of a grudge. For example, Ever since he called the police about their dog, the neighbors have had it in for Tom . [Mid-1800s]

See also: for, have

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

have it in for someone

INFORMAL

COMMON If someone has it in for you, they do not like you and they want to make life difficult for you. He's always had it in for the Dawkins family. There are plenty of people who have it in for me.

See also: for, have, someone

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

have (got) it in for

have a particular dislike of someone and behave in a hostile manner towards them. informal

See also: for, have

have it in for someone

have hostile feelings towards someone. informal

See also: for, have, someone

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

have it ˈin for somebody

(informal) want to harm or cause trouble for somebody because you have had a bad experience with them: She’s had it in for those boys ever since they damaged her roses. ♢ The government has had it in for the trade unions for years.

See also: for, have, somebody

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

have it in for, to

To hold a grudge against. The it in this expression presumably means bad things in store. The term became especially common in popular novels of the first half of the twentieth century. “I have had it in for that dog since the second Sunday,” wrote P. G. Wodehouse (Meet Mr. Mulliner, 1927).

See also: have, to

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer