0

"Arthur, you know Mad-Eye," said Mr. Diggory's head, rolling its eyes again. "Someone creeping into his yard in the dead of night? More likely there's a very shell-shocked cat wandering around somewhere, covered in potato peelings. But if the Improper Use of Magic lot get their hands on Mad-Eye, he's had it -- think of his record -- we've got to get him off on a minor charge, something in your department -- what are exploding dustbins worth?"

The phrase "have it" has a lot of meanings according to dictionaries, such as:

  1. To take or use something.
  2. To know something.
  3. To understand, comprehend, or grasp something.
  4. To claim or maintain that something is the case.
  5. To win a vote.

It might have other meanings too. But I can't figure out what it means exactly in this context. How should we understand it in this context?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

In this context, it likely means "he's done for." (A native British-English speaker may be able to confirm this.)

Improve this answer
4
  • 2
    As a native British-English speaker, this use means something like: this time he will not only receive a warning for the trouble he causes; this time the authorities will punish him severely.
    – Ross Murray
    Commented Dec 10, 2018 at 6:04
  • 1
    While you are (more or less) correct, it would be a good idea to explain the idiom "done for" in plain English.
    – Andrew
    Commented Dec 10, 2018 at 6:10
  • @Andrew Oh, you're right, I guess explaining an idiom with another idiom isn't especially helpful
    – Josh B.
    Commented Dec 10, 2018 at 6:24
  • More-or-less the second definition here.
    – Alex
    Commented Dec 26, 2018 at 19:38

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .