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Thread: The car had had it

  1. #1
    AlexAD's Avatar
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    Default The car had had it

    Hello.

    The OALD gives us that example as a way of saying that the car had become unable to be repaired. If I want to say that the end is about to reach the car but haven't yet reached it, can I say, 'The car is having had it' (I don't think it is correct). What else would you say in this context?

    Thanks, Alex.

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    Default Re: The car had had it

    Quote Originally Posted by AlexAD View Post
    The car is having had it
    We can't say anything like that. We'd have to use different words completely: The car is on its way out/dying/on its last legs, ...'
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    Default Re: The car had had it

    A useful idiom in this sort of case is 'its days are numbered'. (In its original biblical context everyone's 'days are numbered' ['God knows how long they've got to live' - and arguments about predestination should be sent to /dev/null , but now it means 'it's about to die'.)

    b
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    Default Re: The car had had it

    Quote Originally Posted by AlexAD View Post
    Hello.

    The OALD gives us that example as a way of saying that the car had become unable to be repaired. If I want to say that the end is about to reach the car but haven't yet reached it, can I say, 'The car is having had it' (I don't think it is correct). What else would you say in this context?

    Thanks, Alex.
    I am NOT a teacher

    How about: "The car is beyond repair"?
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    Default Re: The car had had it

    Quote Originally Posted by JarekSteliga View Post
    How about: "The car is beyond repair"?
    That suggests that is has completely had it.
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    Default Re: The car had had it

    "The car has had it" is OK.

    It means it has reached the end of its use.

    Many a parent has said, "I've had it" to their teenager.

    They have also reached their end.

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    Default Re: The car had had it

    I've often heard and almost certainly said something like this:
    "This car's/shirt's/can opener's nearly had it".

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    Default Re: The car had had it

    [QUOTE=5jj;855452]
    ...beyond repair....[/quoteThat suggests that is has completely had it.

    In which case, two informal synonyms are 'clapped out' and 'knackered'. If it's wrecked, it's a 'write-off' (not so informal. although in the verbal use it is informal: 'He wrote his car off')

    b
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    JMurray is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: The car had had it

    In Aust/NZ, BobK's suggestions "clapped out", "knackered" and "a write off" are common for cars and engines.
    Also:
    "totally/completely/severely stuffed"
    "gone bung" (not so common now)
    "carked it" (= died) usually of people but also cars, computers etc:
    a) "How's that 72 Falcon of yours?".
    b) "No good mate, she's finally carked it".

    … and there's an old NZ expression, "pukarooed" ("u" as in but).

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