A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

have no sense of something • have not the sense of
something
have no sense of something —not appreciate or understand
the value or worth of smth.: In our country, the rich have no
sense of responsibility.
have not the sense of something —
1
. not mean or denote smth.:
The passage is a quotation … “stantibus in medio crocis,” where
“crocis” has not the sense of “saffron”…. 2. = have no sense of
something: Boys, differently from us adults, have not the sense
of measure, of convenience.
have no time for something • have time for
 something
have no time for something —
1
. be unable to use a period of
time for smth.: Unfortunately, he was very busy and had no
time for a chat. 2. (coll.) have no respect or admiration for
smth.: I never had much time, to use an effective colloquial-
ism, for the list of “the best hundred books.” 3. (coll.) have
no patience with smth.; be unable to put up with smth.: She
had no time for such stupid questions. She had a mission to
accomplish.
have time for something —be able to use a period of time for
smth.: He is extremely approachable and always has time for
a friendly chat.
have nothing to say • have nothing to say for
 oneself
have nothing to say —
1
. have nothing to speak about: The
two remained for a while in their places: Caswall because he
had nothing to say, Mimi because she had much to say and
wished to put her thoughts in order. 2. be unable to justify
or explain one’s conduct; say nothing in one’s own defense:
When I came across pages and pages of porn files I confronted
him and cried but he had nothing to say.
have nothing to say for oneself —
1
. be unwilling to express
one’s opinions; be habitually silent: As for that man … he
really annoys me, he’s so dull and has nothing to say for him-
self, not bad looking, though, is he! 2. = have nothing to say
2: McNabb has nothing to say for himself, instead going on
the offensive — as all people do when another person’s com-
ments strike them where it counts and they know they have
no better response.