English Reference
Idiom idiom

have something over with


To experience the ending or completion of something.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“I want to have this test over with today.”

CONTEXTUAL

“The dentist appointment is painful, but I just want to have it over with as soon as possible.”

COMPLEX

“She dreaded the difficult conversation with her manager, yet she knew it was better to have it over with before the weekend began.”


A combination of *get* and *over with*, first attested in the mid-20th century.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a little of something goes a long way

    Only a small amount of something is usually required to produce a great effect.

  2. 02

    chalk something up to experience

    To take a lesson from a bad outcome instead of grieving it.

  3. 03

    get something over with

    To proceed to do something as soon as possible, especially so as to have something unpleasant behind oneself.

  4. 04

    give someone something to think about

    To threaten or provide a challenge to.

  5. 05

    give something a go

    To try or attempt.

  6. 06

    give something a miss

    To forgo something.

  7. 07

    give something a try

    To try or attempt something.

  8. 08

    give something a whirl

    To try, test or attempt.

Last updated August 10, 2026