First Example:
Sandra:
Have you seen the new Calculus professor, Mr. Crow? He’s really handsome.
Patty:
Oh my gosh! You have the hots for
teacher!
Sandra:
I do not! I was just surprised that he’s so young, and kinda cute.
Patty:
(sarcastically) Sure, I believe you. Did you check if he has a wedding ring?
Sandra:
No! I would never date my teacher.
Patty:
Whatever you say…
Meaning: The expression “to have the hots for” someone means
to be strongly attracted to someone. The idiom is most often used by another
person, often in a teasing manner as in the example here. Here, Patty jokes
that Sandra “has the hots for”
the new professor after Sandra comments on the teacher being handsome. (usage
note: when using this idiom to discuss a teacher, no article is used,
presumably due to the 1980s Van Halen song “Hot For Teacher”)
Second Example:
Kevin:
Are you going to Tina’s party this weekend?
Jeff:
Maybe. Why do you ask?
Kevin:
Well, we all know you’ve had the hots for
her since High school.
Jeff:
What makes you say that?
Kevin:
I just always thought you had a crush on her but didn’t do anything because she
was dating Michael. Now that they’ve broken up…
Jeff:
No, I do not have the hots for Tina.
She’s just a friend.
