Whiteisms
The Archive

Etymology Journal · H

Have at it

Meaning

An invitation to start an activity, eat food, or begin a task with enthusiasm. It grants permission to dive into something without further delay or formalities.

Welcoming, casual, encouraging

Used in a sentence

  • The buffet is finally open, so have at it.
  • I finished prepping the files, so have at it.
  • If you think you can fix the sink, then have at it.

The backstory

This is a contraction of have at it, meaning to attack or approach a challenge. It sounds aggressive, but in modern usage, it is usually quite friendly and welcoming.

Heard in

Nationwide

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