Is that a Catch or a Have? verb. phr. (vulgar).—A formula of
acknowledgment that the speaker has been ‘had.’ [If the person
addressed be unwise enough to answer with a definition, the instant
retort is ‘Then you catch (or have, as the case may be) your nose up my
arse.’]
Verb (colloquial).—1. To cheat; to take-in; to do. See Be.
1805. G. Harrington, New London Spy (4th Ed.) p. 26. Ten to one but
you are had, a cant word they make use of, instead of saying, as
the truth is, we have cheated him.
1825. Egan, Life of an Actor, ch. iv. ‘He’s not to be had,’ said
Gag, in an audible whisper.
1878. Hatton, Cruel London, bk. II., ch. v. ‘They have had me,
bless you,’ said Brayford, ‘the men who have “limbed” you.’
1889. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 8 Feb. Not to be had so easily, my good
man.
1889. Answers, 23 Feb., p. 196, c. 2. But even these fellows, sharp
as they are, have been caught napping lately in a humorous way.
Those who have had them have been young fellows with friends inside
the Stock Exchange.
1891. N. Gould, Double Event, p. 161. Had me nicely once at cards.
1891. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 23 Jan. I never felt so wild in my life.
I’m no fool, you know, and I began to think I was being had a bit.
1891. J. Newman, Scamping Tricks, p. 58. I was nearly had.
1892. Illus. Bits, 22 Oct., p. 14. c. 2. Oh, mebboy, Oi wasn’t t’
be had that way. Oi always kape resates—spishully Gov’ment wans. Oi
got it safe and cosy in me pocket-book.
2. (venery).—To possess carnally. [Said indifferently of, and by, both
sexes.] For synonyms, see Greens.
To have had it, verb. phr. (venery).—To have been seduced.
To have (or take) it out of one, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To punish; to
retaliate; to extort a quid pro quo; to give tit for tat.
To have it out with one, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To speak freely in
reproof; to complete an explanation; to settle a dispute with either
words or blows.
1886. J. S. Winter, Army Society, ch. xix. Instead of going down to
St. Eve’s and having it out, he fretted, and worried, and fumed the
six days away.
1888. Daily News, 8 Dec. There was a question as to who struck the
first blow, but it seemed to him certain that a man who crossed the
road to have it out with another was the most likely to have
commenced hostilities.
To have on, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To secure a person’s interest,
attention, sympathy: generally with a view to deceiving him (or her).
To have towards (or with, or at), verb. phr. (old).—1. To pledge in
drinking; to toast. See Here.
1637. Cartwright, Royal Slave. Here’s to thee, Leocrates. Leoc.
Have towards thee, Philotas. Phil. To thee, Archippus. Arch. Here,
Molops. Mol. Have at you, fidlers.
1836. M. Scott, Tom Cringle’s Log, ch. ii. ‘Have with you, boy—have
with you,’ shouted half-a-dozen other voices, while each stuck his
oaken twig through the handkerchief that held his bundle, and
shouldered it, clapping his straw or tarpaulin hat, with a slap on
the crown, on one side of his head, and staggering and swaying
about under the influence of the poteen.