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How to make out 'Have it in for'?



 
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How to make out 'Have it in for'? #1 (permalink) Mon Nov 06, 2006 5:17 am   How to make out 'Have it in for'?
 

Hi,

Can anyone explain for me the following phrase:?

I understand that 'He has it in for me' = 'He dislikes me'.
What is the 'it' for? and why can the combination come to mean 'dislike'?

Thank you very much in advance. haihao
Haihao
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How to make out 'Have it in for'? #2 (permalink) Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:35 am   How to make out 'Have it in for'?
 

"have it in for someone" is an idiom. Besides disliking you, the person may also try to cause you some trouble or harm.

"it" has no specific meaning that I know of; "it" is just part of the idiom, like "has" and "in" are.
Canadian45
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How to make out 'Have it in for'? #3 (permalink) Tue Nov 14, 2006 14:45 pm   How to make out 'Have it in for'?
 

"Have it in for" implies that the subject has a (take your pick):

grudge
bitterness
resentment

"it" IMO represents these feelings.
Ron1970
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