What does the phrasal verb “have down as” mean?

What are the definitions of “have down as”?

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

• 1. Think of someone or something in a particular way.

  I HAD her DOWN AS a liberal, but I was very wrong.

What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “have down as”?

The most common meaning of the phrasal verb have down as is to think of someone or something in a particular way, often based on assumptions or initial impressions. It is used when you believe something about a person or situation, but you might not have enough information to be sure.

What are the different verb forms of “have down as”?

Root Verb	have down as
Third Person Singular Present	has down as
Present Participle	having down as
Simple Past	had down as
Past Participle	had down as

Example

I have him down as a very intelligent person.

Example

She has the new employee down as a hard worker.

Example

They are having the company down as a potential investment.

Example

We had the weather down as sunny, but it rained all day.

Example

The teacher had the student down as a troublemaker, but he turned out to be very well-behaved.

What kind of phrasal verb is “have down as”?

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a transitive and intransitive verb?
- A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.)
- An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)

Transitive verb

“have down as” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.

Example

I had her down as a very organized person.

Example

He had the situation down as under control.

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Notes from a Native English Speaker

What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb?
- A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle.
- An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.

Inseparable

“have down as” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.

Example

I had her down as a very organized person.

Example

He had the situation down as under control.

What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “have down as”?

Have someone/something down as a certain type

To categorize or label someone or something based on assumptions or initial impressions.

Example

I had the new restaurant down as a casual dining place, but it turned out to be quite fancy.

Have someone/something down as a certain quality

To believe that someone or something possesses a specific quality or characteristic.

Example

She had the job down as easy, but it turned out to be quite challenging.

Good things to know

Does “have down as” have an informal or formal tone?

Have down as is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal settings, such as business meetings or academic discussions.

What are synonyms of antonyms to the phrasal verb “have down as”?

Synonyms

• perceive
• consider
• regard
• view
• see
• believe
• assume
• think of

Antonyms

• disregard
• ignore
• misjudge
• overlook
• underestimate
• misunderstand