have hot pants—(sl.) be excited with sexual desire: Genaro smiled and winked at me. “I understand that you’ve got hot pants for her,” he said. wear hot pants—(sl.) wear tight fitting shorts: The lineup also included Charlie’s pretty daughter Wanda, wearing hot pants, who sang a mixture of songs.
Category: Confusing Phrases
Difference between Have fun with someone and Make fun of someone
have fun with someone— 1. enjoy a good time in the company of others: Ashlyn was a girl who just wanted to have fun with her friends, play sports, and everything else a girl would do. 2. derive pleasure from ridiculing or taunting a person: They were about to have some fun with “the old […]
Difference between Have eyes in the back of one’s head and Have one’s head screwed on backwards
have eyes in the back of one’s head—said of the ability to know what happens even if one is not looking: I remember thinking my mom must have eyes in the back of her head when she would know what I was doing without even turning around to see. have one’s head screwed on backwards—lack […]
Difference between Have egg on one’s chin and Have egg on one’s face
have egg on one’s chin—(euph.) used as a caution to a man having his trouser zip undone: After the game John came up to the bar with his flies undone. “You have egg on your chin, John,” said Gus. have egg on one’s face—(coll.) look foolish; be embarrassed: Gallacher has had some difficult tasks being […]
Difference between Have bowels and Have the guts
have bowels —(dated) have compassion or sympathy: I am a man that can feel for my neighbors. I have bowels—yes I have bowels. have the guts—(coll., also: have guts) 1. be a tough, courageous type of person: A boy’s got to have guts to make his way in this rat race of a modern world. […]
Difference between Have both feet on the ground and Stand on one’s own two feet
have both feet on the ground —(also: have one’s feet on the ground) have a sensible and realistic attitude to life: Catherine in her spiritual writings has both feet on the ground, she lives in the real world, she has uncommon common sense. stand on one’s own two feet—(also: stand on one’s own feet) be […]
Difference between Have bigger fish to fry and Have other fish to fry
have bigger fish to fry—have a much more pressing issue to attend to: If you think this case doesn’t matter—that the Supreme Court has bigger fish to fry—think again. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase big fish—an important person in a company or an organization: Basically this guy was a […]
Difference between Have an option on something and Have the option of something
have an option on something—have the right to buy smth. at a certain price, usually within a certain period of time: If I decide to sell the house you shall have first option on it. have the option of something—have the ability to choose smth. in preference to smth. else: A strike or war is […]
Difference between Have an itching palm and One’s palm itches
have an itching palm —(coll.) have greed for money (being susceptible to bribery, etc.): We guessed he had an itching palm and was hoping to receive a present for his “advice.” one’s palm itches— 1. said of a strong compulsive urge to do smth., especially to strike a person: Her palm itched to slap the […]
Difference between Have an interest in something and Have interests in something
have an interest in something— 1. be keen to know or learn about smth.: None of them had the slightest interest in music. 2. want smth. to be done: Governments have an interest in seeing minimum wages kept above subsistence level. 3. have a share in the ownership of a business: No resident of the […]
Difference between Have an influence on someone and Have influence with someone
have an influence on someone—have an effect on a person; cause smb. to act or behave in a certain way: Some songs even have violent lyrics which can have a bad influence on young people. have influence with someone—have the power to affect the opinion of a person, especially smb. in authority: He had no […]
Difference between Have an in with someone and Have it in for someone
have an in with someone—(coll.) have influence with smb. of authority: He had an in with the city government, but that doesn’t mean they knew everything he did. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase have a run-in with someone—(coll.) have a troublesome encounter or a row with a person: Your […]