Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (also have one) to have sexual intercourse.

c.1660		‘Lye alone’ in Furnivall & Hales Bishop Percy’s Folio Manuscript of Loose and Humorous Songs (1868) 56: If he aske I will not denye; / for the case is such I must haue one.
1672–76		‘Amorous Dialogue Between John and his Mistress’ in Farmer Merry Songs and Ballads (1897) II 65: Such usage as this would make any one mad, / But a Woman will have it if ’tis to be had.
1888–94		‘Walter’ My Secret Life (1966) I 138: She has not had it for six months.
1896		Farmer Vocabula Amatoria (1966) 57: Causer. To copulate; ‘to have it’.
1904		Lustful Memoirs of a Young and Passionated Girl 58: Well, let me put down the berries and you shall have it.
1928		M. West Pleasure Man (1997) Act I: bridget: Well, I’ll admit I’m older nor sixteen, but I got ‘it’. tillie: Yeah – more than once.
1936		(con. 1920s) Dos Passos Big Money in USA (1966) 981: Your wife, does she let you have it any time you want it?
1943		Mass-Observation Report on Juvenile Drinking 11: Would you like to come and stay with me for the night? I’ll be a good little wife to you and you can have it hot and strong.
1956		J. Curtis Look Long Upon a Monkey 189: What I’m on about’s he having it with the bird.
1966		T. Keyes All Night Stand 37: I was having it with some chick in Leeds.
1972		C. Bukowski Erections, Ejaculations etc. 408: While the girls were in [i.e. a mental hospital] they had to have it and we did the best we could to help them.
1985		B. Humphries Traveller’s Tool 86: Nev suddenly realised just why he’d had it on the house.
1993		Kennedy & Davies Boots of Leather (2014) 205: ‘I haven’t had it in so long I go to’.
1995		J. Cameron Vinnie Got Blown Away 36: So I just had to have it.
2000		J.J. Connolly Layer Cake 54: She’s havin it with some right fuckin losers.
2000		R.G. Barrett Leaving Bondi (2013) [ebook] Les got the distinct feeling that Digger was having it away.

2. to have a fight.

1835		D. Crockett Col. Crockett’s Tour to North and Down East 146: Well, it wasn’t long before Sam peeled the bark off of a parly’s knowledge-box, and so Joe and him had it with a cabin full of them.
1848		‘Ned Buntline’ Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 12: You will have it then, my covey; you’re mighty fond of my mawley!
1889		Kipling ‘The Shawdow of His Hand’ in Civil & Military Gaz. 2 Aug. (1909) 42: Lot couldn't well hand his father-in-law over to the police, so they had it, knuckle and tooth, all round the front floor.
1998		K. Sampson Awaydays 11: If they’re there, we have it with them.
2001		I. Welsh Glue 90: It’s goin auf everywhaire [...] wee groups ay cunts huvin it wi each other.

3. to take responsibility for a payment or bill.

1953

‘John Eagle’ Hoodlums (2021) 11: ‘I got it, big shot,’ Jake said, patting his change pocket in his suit.

4. to be brave.

1987

(con. 1967) E. Spencer Welcome to Vietnam (1989) 103: Even so, before Vietnam you’d hear shit about black guys not having it when the chips were down.

5. (UK Und.) to converse (with).

2007

N. ‘Razor’ Smith Raiders 92: The fact that I had [...] been seen having it with some of the escapees was enough.

6. see have v. (2)