I'm in doubt about this idiom. My dictionary says:
WILLIES
A strong feeling of nervous apprehension and discomfort : that room gave him the willies.
I've found a couple of examples about this. Most of them are "It gives me the willies". But I've also found "Have the willies":
"...Needless to say, we both had the willies then!"
"We slept together last night, because I had the willies."
"When you have the willies, everything is out to get you, even the dirty dishes."
Yet, some of the native English speakers I know think it's incorrect. Some even say it's illogical. Is it?
Oh, one more question, do you think this idiom is outdated?
Thanks in advance!
2006-09-26 06:44:14 · 10 answers · asked by Karin 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
The question is... is it OK to use the verb "have"?
2006-09-26 08:26:23 · update #1
Its correct. Not illogical. Those examples all make sense to me in the way I've always heard the word. Outdated? No, it seems pretty common to me.
2006-09-26 06:55:02 · answer #1 · answered by ignernt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you have the willies, everything is out to get you, even the dirty dishes."
Yet, some of the native English speakers I know think it's incorrect. Some even say it's illogical. Is it?
Oh, one more question, do you think this idiom
2006-09-26 06:51:22 · answer #2 · answered by tariq k 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's a little outdated but I think it is kind of a cute term still. I wonder who came up with it. Probably Willy was extremely ugly and scary looking and someone who knew him started saying Willies as a comparison for that.
2006-09-26 06:53:29 · answer #3 · answered by Maggie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have (or had) the willies is correctly used in the examples you show. The thing is that it is not commonly used in that manner. I believe that it's becoming out-dated, as much of the younger generation does not use it any more.
2006-09-26 07:28:13 · answer #4 · answered by Jenni77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say "it gives me the willies" quite regularly, but then I'm not cool.
I do find "have the willies" odd, it seems too on-going for the feeling as I experience it. I guess "it" gives one the willies but one does one's best to get rid of them ASAP.
2006-09-26 09:03:17 · answer #5 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
once you have the willies, each little thing is out to get you, even the grimy dishes." yet, the dissimilar interior sight English audio device i know think of it rather is incorrect. some even say it rather is illogical. Is it? Oh, one greater question, do you think of this idiom
2016-12-12 15:33:11 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just goes to show you cant have your willie & eat it too !
2006-09-26 06:52:53 · answer #7 · answered by Bill L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is tending to the archaic, but everyone knows it, it describes it well, it adds humor, and it communicates.
What else could one ask?
2006-09-26 08:05:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
idk wot ur askin but wot gives me the "willies" is before every stealth mission i get it, its a type of nervous feeling that makes u wanna pee even though u dont need to,
2006-09-26 06:50:50 · answer #9 · answered by nathan 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Can't really say...but do you fancy it ?
Ciao......John-John.
2006-09-26 06:51:38 · answer #10 · answered by John-John 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋