Have the hots for

Meaning

The idiom "have the hots for" is used to describe someone who has a strong romantic interest or infatuation with someone else. It implies that the person has feelings of intense passion and desire towards their love interest.

Usage

• John couldn't stop talking about Sarah when they first met. He definitely had the hots for her.
• We could see the chemistry between Emily and Tom from a mile away. They had the hots for each other!
• When Rachel walked into the room, all eyes were on her. It was clear she had the hots for him.
• Michael and Lisa have been together for months now, but he still has the hots for her.
• Sarah had the hots for Jake since their first date, but it wasn't until they went to the beach that she knew she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "have the hots for" is unclear, but there are several theories. Some believe that it comes from the fact that women used to wear dresses made of wool or linen, which would make them hot under the collar if they were romantically interested in someone. Others believe that it comes from the idea of a person having a fever or being "hot" with desire. The idiom has been in use since at least the 18th century, and its meaning has remained relatively consistent over time.

Synonyms in English

• Crush on someone
• Infatuation
• Fall head over heels for someone
• Have a thing for someone
• Be smitten with someone

Synonyms in other languages

• Portuguese: "Curtir" (to like) or "Adorar" (to adore)
• French: "Aimer" (to love) or "Tomber amoureux" (to fall in love)
• Spanish: "Enamorarse" (to fall in love) or "Caerse por alguien" (to fall for someone)
• Italian: "Essere innamorati" (to be in love) or "Tombarsi" (to fall in love)
• German: "Fallen in Liebe" (to fall in love) or "Selbständig von jemandem sein" (to be independent of someone).

Similar Idioms

• head above water

• high up

• heads will roll