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Glite Dictionary
to have it going on

to have it going on

4 8.4
To be impressive, successful, or attractive in a way people notice
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : tener éxito
  • At the party, he definitely had it going on with his charisma and energy.

I actually had it going on in high school, didn't I?

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Examples

  • Seek out those individuals whose work you admire, whose positive attitude is inspiring, and who seem to "have it going on."

    Blog text (11)

  • We had it going on!

    Stuck on You (2003)

  • You always had it going on.

    Hubie Halloween (2020)

  • I had it going on.

    Houseless (2013)

  • Whether she liked it or not, I knew that we would soon have it going on.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • And these folks think they really have it going on.

    Blog text (26)

  • A woman who has it going on in a professional way finds herself charming many possible partners.

    Blog text (5)

  • I actually had it going on in high school, didn't I?

    Molly Burke

  • I'll be Stacy's mom, and I shall have it going on.

    Blog text (28)

  • You can tell she has it going on because everyone admires her style.

Synonyms

on fire
vsto have it going on
  • Informal
169 4.7

Doing something very well and with great success

is more general admiration rather than intense short-term peak
to work it
vsto have it going on
  • Informal
89 8.4

To act with confidence and skill to attract other people's attention

covers general admired success or attractiveness beyond a single performance
to steal the show
vsto have it going on
  • Informal
14 3.7

To get the most attention or praise at an event

focuses on being noticed but not limited to a single event
thriving
vsto have it going on
6 3.8

Growing and very successful, like a busy café or arts scene

emphasizes admired success noticed by others rather than long-term growth
happenin'
vsto have it going on
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Fashionable and lively, a place or event people want to visit

applies to being admired or successful personally rather than fashionable scenes

Antonyms

unsuccessful
76 2.9

Not getting the result someone wants

unattractive
37 1.8

Not pleasant to look at or to the senses

How Impressive

outstanding
257 3.4
to excel
58 3.7
to have it going on
  • Informal
4 8.4
to do well
520 1.2
to get by
121 3.1

Surface Forms

have it going on infinitive
had it going on past
had it going on past participle
having it going on present participle
has it going on third person singular

Morphology

have + it + going + on

The components 'have' and 'going on' give a partial clue (to possess something that is ongoing or active), so a learner might infer a general sense of an ongoing positive state. However, the evaluative, colloquial meaning 'to be attractive/successful' hinges on idiomatic use of 'it' and pragmatic inference and is not fully predictable from the parts, so it is only partially transparent to B1 learners.

Etymology

Have it going on may come from the picture of something that is going on, like a lively party or a well-running machine, so if someone has it going on they seem 'impressive', 'successful', or full of energy and style.