have a heat on—(U.S. sl.) be alcohol or drug intoxicated:
- A few years ago this dump was full of dope. Every other man you met had a heat on.
heat is on, the—
1. said when strong pressure is brought to bear:
- She says now that the heat is on, the people can depend on the union to stand up strong at the negotiation table.
2. (U.S. coll.) said when police activities or investigations are at their peak:
- The heat is on in Baltimore. The drug war is being lost … and a desperate mayor wants the crime rates down before the election.