ENGLISH
REFERENCE

be said to have sth

idiom
Meaning

people believe or report that someone has a certain quality, item, or history, even if it is not proven.


Examples
SIMPLE

He is said to have a secret fortune.

CONTEXTUAL

The old mansion is said to have a hidden room behind the library wall.

COMPLEX

The reclusive author is said to have written a masterpiece in his youth, though no copy has ever been found by the public.

Last updated April 22, 2026