it

[ it ]

/ ɪt /

pronoun, nominative it, possessive its or (Obsolete or Dialect) it, objective it; plural nominative they, possessive their or theirs, objective them.

(used to represent an inanimate thing understood, previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context): It has whitewall tires and red upholstery. You can't tell a book by its cover.

(used to represent a person or animal understood, previously mentioned, or about to be mentioned whose gender is unknown or disregarded): It was the largest ever caught off the Florida coast. Who was it? It was John. The horse had its saddle on.

(used to represent a group understood or previously mentioned): The judge told the jury it must decide two issues.

(used to represent a concept or abstract idea understood or previously stated): It all started with Adam and Eve. He has been taught to believe it all his life.

(used to represent an action or activity understood, previously mentioned, or about to be mentioned): Since you don't like it, you don't have to go skiing.

(used as the impersonal subject of the verb to be, especially to refer to time, distance, or the weather): It is six o'clock. It is five miles to town. It was foggy.

(used in statements expressing an action, condition, fact, circumstance, or situation without reference to an agent): If it weren't for Edna, I wouldn't go.

(used in referring to something as the origin or cause of pain, pleasure, etc.): Where does it hurt? It looks bad for the candidate.

(used in referring to a source not specifically named or described): It is said that love is blind.

(used in referring to the general state of affairs; circumstances, fate, or life in general): How's it going with you?

(used as an anticipatory subject or object to make a sentence more eloquent or suspenseful or to shift emphasis): It is necessary that you do your duty. It was a gun that he was carrying.

Informal. (used instead of the pronoun its before a gerund): It having rained for only one hour didn't help the crops.

noun

(in children's games) the player called upon to perform some task, as, in tag, the one who must catch the other players.

Slang.

sex appeal.
sexual intercourse.

Idioms for it

get with it, Slang. to become active or interested: He was warned to get with it or resign.

have it, Informal.

to love someone: She really has it bad for him.
to possess the requisite abilities for something; be talented, adept, or proficient: In this business youeither have it or you don't.

with it, Slang.

aware of the latest fads, fashions, etc.; up-to-date.
attentive or alert: I'm just not with it early in the morning.
understanding or appreciative of something, as jazz.
Carnival Slang. being a member of the carnival.

Origin of it

before 900; Middle English, variant of Middle English, Old English hit, neuter of he¹

usage note for it

See me.

Words nearby it

istle, istomin, istria, isv, isère, it, it ain't a fit night out for man or beast, it figures, it girl, it is a far, far better thing that i do, than i have ever done, it never rains but it pours

British Dictionary definitions for have it (1 of 3)

abbreviation for

information technology

British Dictionary definitions for have it (2 of 3)

it ¹

/ (ɪt) /

pronoun (subjective or objective)

refers to a nonhuman, animal, plant, or inanimate thing, or sometimes to a small baby it looks dangerous; give it a bone

refers to an unspecified or implied antecedent or to a previous or understood clause, phrase, etc it is impossible; I knew it

used to represent human life or experience either in totality or in respect of the present situation how's it going?; I've had it; to brazen it out

used as a formal subject (or object), referring to a following clause, phrase, or word it helps to know the truth; I consider it dangerous to go on

used in the nominative as the formal grammatical subject of impersonal verbs. When it functions absolutely in such sentences, not referring to any previous or following clause or phrase, the context is nearly always a description of the environment or of some physical sensation it is raining; it hurts

(used as complement with be) informal the crucial or ultimate point the steering failed and I thought that was it

noun

(in children's games) the player whose turn it is to try to touch another Compare he 1 (def. 5b)

informal

sexual intercourse
sex appeal

informal a desirable quality or ability he's really got it

Word Origin for it

Old English hit

British Dictionary definitions for have it (3 of 3)

it ²

the internet domain name for

Italy

Idioms and Phrases with have it (1 of 2)

have it

Receive or learn something, as in I have it on the best authority that he's running again. [Late 1600s]

Possess a solution, understand, as in Is this the new phone number? Do I have it straight? or I think I have it now. [Mid-1800s]

Take it, as in There's some ice cream left; go ahead and have it. This usage is always put as an imperative. [Second half of 1300s]

Have the victory, win, as in We've counted the votes and the nays have it. The related expressions have it over someone or have it all over someone mean “to be superior to someone.” For example, Jane has it all over Mary when it comes to reading aloud. [Early 1900s]

let someone have it. Give a beating, scolding, or punishment. For example, When she gets home Dad will let her have it. [Mid-1800s]

have it off. Have sexual intercourse, as in The two dogs were having it off in the backyard. [Colloquial; early 1900s] Also see the subsequent idioms beginning with have it; not have it.

Idioms and Phrases with have it (2 of 2)

In addition to the idioms beginning with it

it figures
it never rains but it pours
it stands to reason
it takes all sorts
it takes getting used to
it takes one to know one
it takes two to tango

also see:

that does it

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

it

pronoun, nominative it, possessive its or (Obsolete or Dialect) it, objective it; plural nominative they, possessive their or theirs, objective them.

noun

Idioms for it

Origin of it

usage note for it

Words nearby it

British Dictionary definitions for have it (1 of 3)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for have it (2 of 3)

pronoun (subjective or objective)

noun

Word Origin for it

British Dictionary definitions for have it (3 of 3)

the internet domain name for

Idioms and Phrases with have it (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with have it (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

it

pronoun, nominative it, possessive its or (Obsolete or Dialect) it, objective it; plural nominative they, possessive their or theirs, objective them.

noun

Idioms for it

Origin of it

usage note for it

Words nearby it

Words related to have it

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for have it (1 of 3)

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for have it (2 of 3)

pronoun (subjective or objective)

noun

Word Origin for it

British Dictionary definitions for have it (3 of 3)

the internet domain name for

Idioms and Phrases with have it (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with have it (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for have it (1 of 3)