have designs on
idiom
1
: to have a secret desire and plan to get (something)
She had designs on my job.
2
formal + humorous
: to want to date or have a sexual relationship with (someone)
You can deny it all you want, but I think it's pretty obvious that you have designs on her.
Examples of have designs on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But others, from locals to Greek revolutionaries and the Turkish Aga have designs on the statue.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024
They’re generated by people who know how the dopamine in your brain works, people who have designs on you.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Offering perhaps the best reason for never befriending your neighbors, this psychological horror classic focuses on a newlywed (Mia Farrow) who becomes mysteriously pregnant and begins to suspect that her neighbors have designs on her baby.
—Amy MacKelden, ELLE, 28 Aug. 2023
The Rangers lead the AL West and have designs on a long playoff run, but Friday’s loss, and the last week in general, underscored two issues that are incongruent with playoff teams.
—Evan Grant, Dallas News, 19 Aug. 2023
Centrist party officials reportedly have designs on ministries such as health, mining and regional development, according to Bolsonaro aides and influential lawmakers who spoke on condition of anonymity.
—Star Tribune, 1 Feb. 2021
But the political change could be more stark this time around as progressives are hoping to pick up several seats, and in some cases have designs on replacing veteran council members known for supporting the mayor with more independent-minded lawmakers.
—John Byrne, Chicago Tribune, 28 Nov. 2022
The screenwriter struggles to maintain his integrity in regard to both his work and his wife (the producer appears to have designs on both), but finds his self-respect slipping away.
—Jonathan Kandell, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2022
Beasley, who lives in Plymouth, is a restricted free agent the Wolves have designs on re-signing after trading for him in February.
—Kim Hyatt, Star Tribune, 27 Sep. 2020
John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024
They’re generated by people who know how the dopamine in your brain works, people who have designs on you.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Offering perhaps the best reason for never befriending your neighbors, this psychological horror classic focuses on a newlywed (Mia Farrow) who becomes mysteriously pregnant and begins to suspect that her neighbors have designs on her baby.
—Amy MacKelden, ELLE, 28 Aug. 2023
The Rangers lead the AL West and have designs on a long playoff run, but Friday’s loss, and the last week in general, underscored two issues that are incongruent with playoff teams.
—Evan Grant, Dallas News, 19 Aug. 2023
Centrist party officials reportedly have designs on ministries such as health, mining and regional development, according to Bolsonaro aides and influential lawmakers who spoke on condition of anonymity.
—Star Tribune, 1 Feb. 2021
But the political change could be more stark this time around as progressives are hoping to pick up several seats, and in some cases have designs on replacing veteran council members known for supporting the mayor with more independent-minded lawmakers.
—John Byrne, Chicago Tribune, 28 Nov. 2022
The screenwriter struggles to maintain his integrity in regard to both his work and his wife (the producer appears to have designs on both), but finds his self-respect slipping away.
—Jonathan Kandell, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2022
Beasley, who lives in Plymouth, is a restricted free agent the Wolves have designs on re-signing after trading for him in February.
—Kim Hyatt, Star Tribune, 27 Sep. 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'have designs on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Have designs on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20designs%20on. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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