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Glite Dictionary
to have something over with

to have something over with

1 5.3
To finish something unpleasant so you stop worrying
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : terminar con algo
  • If you and I are bound to fight sooner or later, I'd rather do it now and have it over with.

Examples

  • It was easy to see that the men would have liked to have it over with and be back in the barracks.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • I just have to get it over with.

  • I just have to get it over with.

    Guilty by Suspicion (1991)

  • - I'll have this over with quickly.

    Nothing Like The Sun (2018)

  • If he is the store detective, let's just let him get us and have it over with.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • I had to get it over with, that's all.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Couldn't I take them all at once, and have it over with, Jacob?

    A Christmas Carol (2009)

  • It won't be so bad to have it over with.

    The Seventh Cross (1944)

  • - I'll have this over with quickly.

  • If you and I are bound to fight sooner or later, I'd rather do it now and have it over with.

Synonyms

to complete
vsto have something over with
∞ 1.0

To finish something or make it whole

is specifically about ending unpleasant or stressful matters so concern ends
to clean up
vsto have something over with
  • Informal
333 2.7

To finish dealing with things and put them in order

is about completing unpleasant tasks rather than organizing or cleaning up
to get over with
vsto have something over with
249 3.9

To finish an unpleasant task quickly so you do not worry about it

is about finishing unpleasant tasks to remove concern without stressing speed
to wrap up
vsto have something over with
226 3.0

Finish an activity or task

is about finishing unpleasant tasks rather than providing a formal conclusion
to finish up
vsto have something over with
190 2.0

To complete an activity or task

emphasizes ending unpleasant tasks so worry stops rather than general ending
to get over
vsto have something over with
65 3.4

Finish an unpleasant or necessary task

is about ending such tasks rather than simply coping with them
to dispose of
vsto have something over with
56 4.1

Deal with and finish a problem or task so it no longer causes trouble

focuses on ending unpleasant tasks rather than solving broader problems
to finish off
vsto have something over with
31 2.5

To complete the last part of a task

is about ending unpleasant tasks, not only doing final parts
to clear up
vsto have something over with
12 2.6

To finish tasks completely so nothing is left

is about completing unpleasant tasks rather than clearing every detail
to finish out
vsto have something over with
11 4.0

To complete something by adding the final touches

is about finishing unpleasant tasks rather than polishing or detailing work
to have done with
vsto have something over with
6 5.2

To finish something and stop taking part in it

refers to completing unpleasant tasks so worry stops, not merely ending involvement
to mop up
vsto have something over with
  • Informal
1 3.3

To finish the last parts of a job

focuses on completing unpleasant matters rather than just tidying leftovers

Antonyms

to delay
562 1.4

To make something happen later than planned

to prolong
96 3.9

To make something last longer

How Fast

to have something over with
  • Informal
1 5.3
to finish
∞ 1.0
to put off
113 2.9

Surface Forms

have something over with infinitive
had something over with past
had something over with past participle
having something over with present participle
has something over with third person singular

Morphology

have + something + over + with

The element 'over' carries the sense of 'finished' and 'have' indicates undergoing or experiencing, so a learner who knows the words could roughly infer that the phrase involves bringing something to an end. However, the specific fixed construction 'have something over with' (and its idiomatic use to complete an unpleasant task) is not fully predictable from the constituents alone, making it only partially transparent.

Etymology

Have something over with comes from the image of getting a small, painful job done quickly—like ripping off a bandage—so it is over and with you. That's why it means 'to finish something unpleasant so it is no longer a worry'.