have nothing on somebody
have nothing on (someone or something)
1. To have no discernible advantage over someone or something else; to not be any better than someone or something. Yeah, you're pretty good at basketball, but you have nothing on my older brother Steve. Video game systems have gotten pretty impressive, but in my opinion they have nothing on the classic systems from the '90s.
2. To have no decisive incriminating evidence against someone; to have no proof of wrongdoing or criminality about someone. The police can insinuate all they want, but they know they have nothing on me.
3. To have no information available about someone or something. I got this history book for my report, but it has nothing on the topic I want to write about! The encyclopedia entry is horribly outdated—it has nothing on the current president!
See also: have, nothing, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
have nothing on somebody
(informal)1 have much less of a particular quality than something/somebody: I’m quite a fast worker, but I’ve got nothing on her! Although all four children could play the piano well, the three boys had nothing on Joan, who played like an angel.
2 (of the police, etc.) have no information that could show somebody to be guilty of something: Look, they’ve got nothing on you, so stop worrying! OPPOSITE: have something on somebody
See also: have, nothing, on, somebody
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- better of
- bird has flown, the
- be/have done with somebody/something
- be in line with (someone or something)
- (someone or something) promises well
- begin with
- begin with (someone or something)
- beware of
- beware of (someone or something)
- be rough on (someone or something)