# have the biscuit

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/have-the-biscuit
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be of no further use; to be near death.

## Examples

- The old car finally had the biscuit.
- After years of constant repairs, the washing machine finally had the biscuit and stopped working entirely.
- The ancient engine sputtered one last time before it had the biscuit, leaving the travelers stranded in the middle of the desert.

## Origin

From have + the + biscuit (“Communion wafer”).

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.