Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
have it out for sb
English answer:
yes, the same
Added to glossary by
literary
Nov 16, 2007 19:53
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
have it out for sb
English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
"the bitch who has had it out for me since we met"
I have a definition for "have it in for" (Intend to harm, especially because of a grudge)
Are these two the same?
I have a definition for "have it in for" (Intend to harm, especially because of a grudge)
Are these two the same?
Responses
+3
2 mins
Mark Berelekhis
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
United States
Exemplary quality, truly bilingual
Native in: Russian 
, English
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
yes, the same
They do in fact mean the same thing. I'll try to dig up some info on the reason for variation.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2007-11-16 20:02:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Alright, it seems that "to have it IN for" is the more standard, popular version. The "out" version was used in similar context and has meant the same thing everywhere I looked on the net, but there weren't as many examples of it as with the "in." "In' is also explained in most of the dictionaries I looked in, while "out" is not.
But to answer your question -- yes, it means the same thing.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2007-11-16 20:02:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Alright, it seems that "to have it IN for" is the more standard, popular version. The "out" version was used in similar context and has meant the same thing everywhere I looked on the net, but there weren't as many examples of it as with the "in." "In' is also explained in most of the dictionaries I looked in, while "out" is not.
But to answer your question -- yes, it means the same thing.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "OK, peer comments included."
3 hrs
To feel hostile towards sb
Idiom: have it in for someone
colloq
To feel hostile towards them and wish to cause them unpleasantness.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/62851/
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2007-11-16 23:27:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Jill, from DC writes:
Competitive sourcing costs people jobs. Why does this administration have it out for government employees?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20030722.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2007-11-16 23:44:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Have it out for sb = have it in for sb.
------------------------------
Do the Police Have it out for O.J.?
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson, AlterNet. Posted September 17, 2007.
Do the police have it in for OJ
Posted by: Damu on Sep 19, 2007 12:40 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
White America has it in for OJ-not just the police.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/62851/
colloq
To feel hostile towards them and wish to cause them unpleasantness.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/62851/
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2007-11-16 23:27:44 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Jill, from DC writes:
Competitive sourcing costs people jobs. Why does this administration have it out for government employees?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20030722.html
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2007-11-16 23:44:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Have it out for sb = have it in for sb.
------------------------------
Do the Police Have it out for O.J.?
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson, AlterNet. Posted September 17, 2007.
Do the police have it in for OJ
Posted by: Damu on Sep 19, 2007 12:40 PM
Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
White America has it in for OJ-not just the police.
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/62851/
+3
5 hrs
Jennifer Levey
Chile
Chile
Native in English
&
English
Chile
Human-scale Globalization
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
have it *out with* sb / have it *in for* sb
Just to confirm what Carol and Ken have suggested elsewhere: there are two similar expressions with very different meanings:
have it OUT WITH sb --> seek (or impose) agreement through argument
have it IN FOR sb --> go looking for revenge
Other combinations are the product of varying degrees of illiteracy/incompetence.
have it OUT WITH sb --> seek (or impose) agreement through argument
have it IN FOR sb --> go looking for revenge
Other combinations are the product of varying degrees of illiteracy/incompetence.
Something went wrong...