Expressions with ‘have’

• have your ducks in a row (have everything organised): She won't start the business until she

has all her ducks in a row

• have cold feet (to feel so nervous that you don't want to do something): He wants to sing in

front of everyone but he has cold feet.

• have green fingers (be very good at growing plants): I always kill plants but my mum has

green fingers.

• have your hands full (be very busy): She's got a full-time job and four children. She has her

hands full!

• have your cake and eat it (to use something up and keep it): You can't save money and spend

it on dinners in restaurants! You can't have your cake and eat it.

• have a soft spot for someone (to like someone): He's always had a soft spot for Lisa.

• have butterflies in your stomach (to feel nervous before an event): I had butterflies in my

stomach before the wedding.

• have issues with something / someone (have a problem with something or someone): We've

had issues with that fridge ever since we bought it. It wasn't a good choice.

• have no time for someone (to not respect someone): She has no time for people who

complain.

• have ants in your pants (to not be able to sit still, very informal): What's wrong? Why do you

have ants in your pants? Sit down!

Let's review! Complete the expressions with 'have'. You might need more than one word.

1. She has a __________________________________________________ for James. She's

always really liked him.

2. He has three jobs! He has his __________________________________________________.

3. My granny's garden is amazing. She has

__________________________________________________.

4. That car is really no good. We've been having

__________________________________________________ with it for months.

5. He has __________________________________________________ for people who are late.

He's always really punctual.

6. I like to have all my ducks in a __________________________________________________

before I start something new.

7. She had __________________________________________________ in her stomach before

she went on stage.

8. He wanted to quit his job but he had

__________________________________________________. So he's still at that job!

9. You can't work two hours a week and make a lot of money! You can't have your

__________________________________________________ and eat it!

10. The child was wriggling all over the sofa. He had

__________________________________________________!
Answers

1. She has a soft spot for James. She's always really liked him.

2. He has three jobs! He has his hands full.

3. My granny's garden is amazing. She has green fingers.

4. That car is really no good. We've been having issues with it for months.

5. He has no time for people who are late. He's always really punctual.

6. I like to have all my ducks in a row before I start something new.

7. She had butterflies in her stomach before she went on stage.

8. He wanted to quit his job but he had cold feet. So he's still at that job!

9. You can't work two hours a week and make a lot of money! You can't have your cake and eat

it!

10. The child was wriggling all over the sofa. He had ants in his pants!

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