6 Everyday English Phrases with "Have" | Meanings and Example Sentences

We have all surely heard the word have quite often in English conversations. The most common meaning of this word is to indicate possession or ownership of something. In Indonesian, have is usually translated as "mempunyai" or "memiliki".

Even so, have can also take on different meanings when combined with other English words to form a phrase. Here are six everyday English phrases constructed from the word have, complete with their meanings and examples of how to use them in sentences!

1. Have no idea

The phrase have no idea can be used to express not knowing something—regardless of its literal translation : "tidak punya ide". This phrase can be an alternative to don’t / doesn’t know to give the impression of a more advanced and idiomatic use of English.

Example : I have no idea about his attitude these days, but he's so cold to me.
Translation : Saya tidak tahu mengenai sikapnya belakangan ini, tapi dia sangat dingin kepada saya.

2. Have a crush on someone

The phrase have a crush on someone is used to express a liking toward someone. The level of liking expressed with this phrase is not as strong as that expressed with the word love. Therefore, this phrase is not commonly used to express feelings of love directly, but rather more often to simply express admiration or infatuation toward someone.

Example : She's so beautiful, I think I have a crush on her.
Translation : Dia begitu cantik, kurasa aku naksir sama dia

3. Have something in common

To express similarities shared with other people, we can use the phrase have something in common. Using this phrase can give the impression of a more idiomatic use of English compared to just using the word same.

Example : Adi and I have music taste in common, we both love jazz.
Translation : Adi dan saya memiliki selera musik yang sama, kami berdua menyukai musik jazz.

4. Have had enough

The phrase have had enough is used to express feelings of being fed up or tired of something. With this meaning, it is commonly used in contexts that carry a tone of anger.

Example : I can't stand her attitude anymore, I've had enough of serving her.
Translation : Saya sudah tidak tahan lagi dengan sikapnya, saya sudah muak melayaninya.

5. Have no parallel

Someone or something can be described with the phrase have no parallel to express that there is no one or nothing else that equals them. However, beyond just the context of looking for similarities, this phrase conveys the idea of someone or something being so exceptional, that no one or nothing else can match them. With this meaning, it is commonly used to express admiration or to give praise. In Indonesian, the closest equivalent expressions to the interpretation of this phrase are "tidak ada duanya" or "tidak ada tandingannya".

Example : Song Hye Kyo really has no parallel as a well-preserved Korean artist.
Translation : Song Hye Kyo benar-benar tidak ada duanya sebagai artis Korea yang awet muda.

6. Have a screw loose

The phrase have a screw loose is used to describe someone who is considered crazy, acting oddly, or as if they have mental issues. This phrase is very informal and less commonly used compared to words like crazy, wacky, insane, and others. However, the use of this phrase can still be understood and can give a strong idiomatic impression in English.

Example : His girlfriend definitely has a screw loose, she robbed all his money!
Translation : Pacarnya benar-benar sinting, dia menghabiskan seluruh uangnya!

Fun Fact :

This phrase once appeared in the movie The Secret Life of Pets, in a dialogue from a dog character named Pop. Here is an excerpt from the dialogue :

"That ball of fluff's got a screw loose, let's skedaddle!"
Translation : "Si bola bulu (kelinci) itu gila, ayo kita cabut!"

Final Words
In addition to the ones mentioned above, there are still many other English phrases formed from the word have. In its role as a phrase-building element, the word have often undergoes shifts in meaning from its basic meaning (which expresses possession or ownership). Therefore, it is important to understand the idiomatic or implied meanings of these phrases, regardless of their literal translations.