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have nothing on

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have nothing on someone

 

1. to lack the evidence necessary to place a charge against someone. The police had nothing on Bob, so they let him loose. You've got nothing on me! Let me go!

2. to have an advantage over someone. Roger has nothing on me when it comes to basketball.

See also: have, nothing, on

have nothing on someone or something

to have no information about someone or something. (See also have nothing on someone.) The dictionary had nothing on the word I looked up. The librarian said that the library has nothing on the topic of my paper.

See also: have, nothing, on

have nothing on

Also, not have anything on.

1. Have no advantage over something or someone, as in This car has nothing on my old one. [c. 1900]

2. Have no damaging information or proof of wrongdoing about someone, as in The police had nothing on him and so were forced to let him go. This usage is the antonym of have something on someone, as in Blackmail requires that you have something on someone wealthy. [c. 1920]

3. Have nothing scheduled for a certain time, as in We have nothing on tonight, so why don't you come over? This expression, and its antonym, have something on, are abbreviations of have nothing (or something) going on.

4. Be naked, as in Please bring in the mail; I just took a bath and don't have anything on.

See also: have, nothing, on