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50 Useful Expressions and Idioms with HAVE

In this article you can learn 50 expressions and idioms with ‘HAVE‘ that will build your vocabulary and improve your overall level of English.

Learning new words in English, is a bit like unwrapping an onion. As you open it and look deeper, you find lots of new layers, or new meanings. 

The most commonly used words in English often have much deeper meanings. As your English level gets higher, it’s important that you start to discover the deeper meanings of these  ‘simple’ words.

Take for example, the verb ‘to have‘, do you really know the difference meanings of this word, and how to use it?

Let’s find out.

Discover lots of Band 9 phrases using ‘GET 

 

Table of Contents

Expressions with 'have' meaning possession

We can use ‘have’ to show possession of something or to identify things that are ours.

  • I have a pen
  • I have an iPhone
  • I have a sister
  • I have a dog 

Notice that in American English, they tend to just say ‘have

I have a blue car

I don’t have a black car

However, in British English we often say ‘have got’ 

I’ve got a red pen

I haven’t got a blue pen 

We can describe people’s characteristics or appearance using ‘have’

  • I have a big nose
  • I have blue eyes
  • I’ve got ginger hair
  • I haven’t got a beard 

We can also use ‘have’ when describing people’s personality

To have a bad/nasty temper = To often get angry easily

She has such a nasty temper 

To have a lovely manner = To speak calmly and politely

She has such a calm and lovely manner    

We can also use ‘have’ to describe people’s behaviour

To have good manners = to be well-behaved

To have bad manners = To be rude and impolite

She has very good manners but her brother has really bad manners

Finally we use ‘have’ to identify sicknesses. 

  • I have a cold
  • He has a cough
  • She has a fever
  • I have a stomachache
  • He has a headache 
English expressions with have health

Expressions with 'have' describing activities

We can use ‘to have’ to describe an activity. For example,

  • Have a shower
  • Have a wash 

All of the following mean to rest or sleep for a short period of time.

  • Have a rest  
  • Have a lie down
  • Have a nap
  • Have a siesta
  • Have a rest
  • Have a snooze
  • Have a power nap
  • Have 40 winks 

Instead of using a verb, we can use ‘have + a + noun’ and this makes the expression softer or more inviting.

For example, 

Have a look!

This sounds softer and more inviting than directly say ‘look!’

More examples include, 

  • Have a listen
  • Have a look 
  • Have a smell
  • Have a taste
  • Have a bite 
  • Have a think
  • Have a ponder 
  • Have a try 
  • Have a go 

Idiomatic expressions with 'have'

To have time to kill = to have spare time

The other day I had time to kill so I got in touch with my mate Tim

 

To have time on your hands = to have free time 

Tim has lots of time on his hands as he is on holiday now.

To have a bone to pick with someone = have a reason to disagree with, or be angry with, someone

I have a bone to pick with Tim because he chose the last film we went to see and it was utter rubbish

He doesn’t have a clue = He doesn’t know 

Tim doesn’t have a clue when it comes to choosing a good film

To have a one track mind = to think about only one thing

All Tim thinks about is fast action and special effects – he’s got a one track mind.

To have the upper hand = to have an advantage over someone

Last time Tim chose the film we went to watch and it was rubbish, so this time I had the upper hand and I was going to choose.

To have money to burn = to have plenty of money to spend

Fortunately, Tim said he was going to pay, you know he has money to burn

To have a whale of a time = to enjoy oneself a lot

We had a whale of a time at the cinema, it was a great film

To have a blast = to enjoy oneself a lot

Tim had a blast and said he hadn’t laughed so much in ages

I hope you found this article useful. If you did, let me know in the comments below.

Thanks, Keith 

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Keith O'Hare

Trinity Dip TESOL, MSc Digital Education (UK). Helping more than 40,000 students worldwide with my online courses. A lover of languages, teaching and lasagna!

10 thoughts on “50 Useful Expressions and Idioms with HAVE”

  1. Hi Keith,
    Thank you for the lesson. I’ve found it very useful. I’ve been trying to get more information about usage the verb “have” , “have got” and idiomatic phrases with those. Surprisingly, even though “have” is a basic verb in English there are a plenty of expressions that change its meaning

    1. Glad you liked it. Yes, we use lots of expressions with have. The same is also true of many simple verbs, like, take, come and so on.

  2. Hello thanks for your nice guidance.i want to study selfishly because I haven’t possibly to get course

    1. You mean ‘study on your own’, that’s fine. I hope my website and free resources can help you.

  3. Hi Keith
    A really useful little lesson. I had been teaching have and have got the day before with an intermediate adult student and this gave me some more useful practice – many thanks 🙂

    Helen M

    Helen4english.com

  4. Kane kaka Moussa

    Well done !
    What about verbs formed with “have+ noun” without “a” for instance : have lunch; have dinner; have breakfast ?

  5. Keith, I really appreciate all the material you have published. It is extremely relevant in terms of English teaching and learning as a foreign English. Keep doing that. You have made a good contribution. Thank you very much indeed.

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