have designs on
idiom
1
: to have a secret desire and plan to get (something)
She had designs on my job.
2
formal + humorous
: to want to date or have a sexual relationship with (someone)
You can deny it all you want, but I think it's pretty obvious that you have designs on her.
Examples of have designs on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But others, from locals to Greek revolutionaries and the Turkish Aga have designs on the statue.
—
John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024
They’re generated by people who know how the dopamine in your brain works, people who have designs on you.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Offering perhaps the best reason for never befriending your neighbors, this psychological horror classic focuses on a newlywed (Mia Farrow) who becomes mysteriously pregnant and begins to suspect that her neighbors have designs on her baby.
—Amy MacKelden, ELLE, 28 Aug. 2023
The Rangers lead the AL West and have designs on a long playoff run, but Friday’s loss, and the last week in general, underscored two issues that are incongruent with playoff teams.
—Evan Grant, Dallas News, 19 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for have designs on 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024
They’re generated by people who know how the dopamine in your brain works, people who have designs on you.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Offering perhaps the best reason for never befriending your neighbors, this psychological horror classic focuses on a newlywed (Mia Farrow) who becomes mysteriously pregnant and begins to suspect that her neighbors have designs on her baby.
—Amy MacKelden, ELLE, 28 Aug. 2023
The Rangers lead the AL West and have designs on a long playoff run, but Friday’s loss, and the last week in general, underscored two issues that are incongruent with playoff teams.
—Evan Grant, Dallas News, 19 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for have designs on
Dictionary Entries Near have designs on
Cite this Entry
“Have designs on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20designs%20on. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share