have someone there

verb

To put someone in a disadvantageous position, as in an argument, such that someone doesn't have an appropriate answer or solution.

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Meanings

verbhave someone there (third-person singular simple present has someone there, present participle having someone there, simple past and past participle had someone there)

present singular third person has someone there · participle present having someone there · participle past had someone there · past had someone there

  1. colloquialhumoroussometimesTo put someone in a disadvantageous position, as in an argument, such that someone doesn't have an appropriate answer or solution.

    Ah, ha ha. He had you there, mate. Didn't he? That'll teach you a lesson.

    1979, Monty Python's Life of Brian, spoken by Mr. Cheeky (Eric Idle)
    1 more example

    Well, at least the beer industry made it out of the Super Bowl without any wars waged between Anheuser-Busch and small and independent brewers. Just kidding! We totally had you there for a second.

    2018 February 8, Cat Wolinski, “Hop Take: Craft Breweries Are Fighting With AB InBev Over Disaster Relief Because of Course They Are”, in VinePair

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
get someone there
Cite this entry
APA

have someone there. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20someone%20there

MLA

“have someone there.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20someone%20there. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “have someone there,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20someone%20there.

Source: have someone there on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.