Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
have form
English answer:
have a record of having done this
Added to glossary by
_floriana_
Jan 31, 2009 17:06
15 yrs ago
English term
have form
English
Bus/Financial
Journalism
article about recession in the UK
In this article: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/92011204-e988-11dd-9535-0000779fd2... it reads:
But the prime minister cannot be so definitive on Britain having no possibility of defaulting. After all, the country ***has form***.
Can anybody explain what "has form" means?
Thanks!
f
But the prime minister cannot be so definitive on Britain having no possibility of defaulting. After all, the country ***has form***.
Can anybody explain what "has form" means?
Thanks!
f
Responses
4 +7 | has a record of having done this | Jack Doughty |
Change log
Jan 31, 2009 17:21: Nesrin changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"
Responses
+7
4 mins
Selected
has a record of having done this
Literally, "to have form" means to have a criminal conviction, to be on police records. In this case, under a previous Labour government in the 1970s, the British economy became incapable of sustaining itself by its own efforts and had to call on the International Monetary fund for a large bail-out, which was accompanied by stringent conditions.
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Note added at 6 mins (2009-01-31 17:12:43 GMT)
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Before being applied to criminal convictions, I believe this term came from horse-racing.
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Note added at 6 mins (2009-01-31 17:12:43 GMT)
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Before being applied to criminal convictions, I believe this term came from horse-racing.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks, Jack!"
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