What does “they’ve got a hotel to run” mean?

The name of the pictureThe name of the pictureThe name of the pictureClash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP





.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;







up vote
10
down vote

favorite
2













They’ve got a hotel to run.




I've across with the phrase above in a novel. But apparently it's a famous sentence in The Furchester Hotel:




They're furry and crazy - and they've got a hotel to run!




But what does it mean?




Note: James and Bradley are the hotel's owners.



The fuller text is:




“If we could all just stop pointing the finger at me for a minute,
there’s something I’d like to bring up,” Matthew says. He knows he
sounds a bit aggressive; he doesn’t care. They’ve practically accused
him of murder, for God’s sake. “What’s that?” David says. “I think
James and Bradley are hiding something.” James looks completely taken
aback. Bradley flushes to the roots of his hair. “What do you mean?”
James stammers. Matthew leans toward James and Bradley, who are seated
together. “This is your hotel. Maybe you know something the rest of us
don’t.” “Like what?” James says, on the defensive. “I don’t know. But
I’ve seen you two whispering together. What have you been whispering
about?” “We haven’t been whispering,” James says, coloring. “Yes, you
have, I’ve seen you.” “Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Ian interjects,
“they’ve got a hotel to run.”








share|improve this question






















  • I'm curious about furry and crazy. Epecially because I I don't see it in the expanded quotation.
    – Jason Bassford
    Sep 2 at 15:19







  • 6




    They are puppets in a kid's TV show. It is a BBC spin-off of Sesame Street called "The Furchester Hotel". In each episode, alongside Elmo and Cookie Monster, they figure out how to solve different issues that are developed by the guests of the hotel.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 2 at 15:48







  • 2




    I forgot to mention that they are, indeed, furry.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 2 at 19:48
















up vote
10
down vote

favorite
2













They’ve got a hotel to run.




I've across with the phrase above in a novel. But apparently it's a famous sentence in The Furchester Hotel:




They're furry and crazy - and they've got a hotel to run!




But what does it mean?




Note: James and Bradley are the hotel's owners.



The fuller text is:




“If we could all just stop pointing the finger at me for a minute,
there’s something I’d like to bring up,” Matthew says. He knows he
sounds a bit aggressive; he doesn’t care. They’ve practically accused
him of murder, for God’s sake. “What’s that?” David says. “I think
James and Bradley are hiding something.” James looks completely taken
aback. Bradley flushes to the roots of his hair. “What do you mean?”
James stammers. Matthew leans toward James and Bradley, who are seated
together. “This is your hotel. Maybe you know something the rest of us
don’t.” “Like what?” James says, on the defensive. “I don’t know. But
I’ve seen you two whispering together. What have you been whispering
about?” “We haven’t been whispering,” James says, coloring. “Yes, you
have, I’ve seen you.” “Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Ian interjects,
“they’ve got a hotel to run.”








share|improve this question






















  • I'm curious about furry and crazy. Epecially because I I don't see it in the expanded quotation.
    – Jason Bassford
    Sep 2 at 15:19







  • 6




    They are puppets in a kid's TV show. It is a BBC spin-off of Sesame Street called "The Furchester Hotel". In each episode, alongside Elmo and Cookie Monster, they figure out how to solve different issues that are developed by the guests of the hotel.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 2 at 15:48







  • 2




    I forgot to mention that they are, indeed, furry.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 2 at 19:48












up vote
10
down vote

favorite
2









up vote
10
down vote

favorite
2






2






They’ve got a hotel to run.




I've across with the phrase above in a novel. But apparently it's a famous sentence in The Furchester Hotel:




They're furry and crazy - and they've got a hotel to run!




But what does it mean?




Note: James and Bradley are the hotel's owners.



The fuller text is:




“If we could all just stop pointing the finger at me for a minute,
there’s something I’d like to bring up,” Matthew says. He knows he
sounds a bit aggressive; he doesn’t care. They’ve practically accused
him of murder, for God’s sake. “What’s that?” David says. “I think
James and Bradley are hiding something.” James looks completely taken
aback. Bradley flushes to the roots of his hair. “What do you mean?”
James stammers. Matthew leans toward James and Bradley, who are seated
together. “This is your hotel. Maybe you know something the rest of us
don’t.” “Like what?” James says, on the defensive. “I don’t know. But
I’ve seen you two whispering together. What have you been whispering
about?” “We haven’t been whispering,” James says, coloring. “Yes, you
have, I’ve seen you.” “Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Ian interjects,
“they’ve got a hotel to run.”








share|improve this question















They’ve got a hotel to run.




I've across with the phrase above in a novel. But apparently it's a famous sentence in The Furchester Hotel:




They're furry and crazy - and they've got a hotel to run!




But what does it mean?




Note: James and Bradley are the hotel's owners.



The fuller text is:




“If we could all just stop pointing the finger at me for a minute,
there’s something I’d like to bring up,” Matthew says. He knows he
sounds a bit aggressive; he doesn’t care. They’ve practically accused
him of murder, for God’s sake. “What’s that?” David says. “I think
James and Bradley are hiding something.” James looks completely taken
aback. Bradley flushes to the roots of his hair. “What do you mean?”
James stammers. Matthew leans toward James and Bradley, who are seated
together. “This is your hotel. Maybe you know something the rest of us
don’t.” “Like what?” James says, on the defensive. “I don’t know. But
I’ve seen you two whispering together. What have you been whispering
about?” “We haven’t been whispering,” James says, coloring. “Yes, you
have, I’ve seen you.” “Oh, for Christ’s sake,” Ian interjects,
“they’ve got a hotel to run.”










share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Sep 3 at 6:45

























asked Sep 2 at 14:26









Peace

1,85821536




1,85821536











  • I'm curious about furry and crazy. Epecially because I I don't see it in the expanded quotation.
    – Jason Bassford
    Sep 2 at 15:19







  • 6




    They are puppets in a kid's TV show. It is a BBC spin-off of Sesame Street called "The Furchester Hotel". In each episode, alongside Elmo and Cookie Monster, they figure out how to solve different issues that are developed by the guests of the hotel.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 2 at 15:48







  • 2




    I forgot to mention that they are, indeed, furry.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 2 at 19:48
















  • I'm curious about furry and crazy. Epecially because I I don't see it in the expanded quotation.
    – Jason Bassford
    Sep 2 at 15:19







  • 6




    They are puppets in a kid's TV show. It is a BBC spin-off of Sesame Street called "The Furchester Hotel". In each episode, alongside Elmo and Cookie Monster, they figure out how to solve different issues that are developed by the guests of the hotel.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 2 at 15:48







  • 2




    I forgot to mention that they are, indeed, furry.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 2 at 19:48















I'm curious about furry and crazy. Epecially because I I don't see it in the expanded quotation.
– Jason Bassford
Sep 2 at 15:19





I'm curious about furry and crazy. Epecially because I I don't see it in the expanded quotation.
– Jason Bassford
Sep 2 at 15:19





6




6




They are puppets in a kid's TV show. It is a BBC spin-off of Sesame Street called "The Furchester Hotel". In each episode, alongside Elmo and Cookie Monster, they figure out how to solve different issues that are developed by the guests of the hotel.
– Michael Harvey
Sep 2 at 15:48





They are puppets in a kid's TV show. It is a BBC spin-off of Sesame Street called "The Furchester Hotel". In each episode, alongside Elmo and Cookie Monster, they figure out how to solve different issues that are developed by the guests of the hotel.
– Michael Harvey
Sep 2 at 15:48





2




2




I forgot to mention that they are, indeed, furry.
– Michael Harvey
Sep 2 at 19:48




I forgot to mention that they are, indeed, furry.
– Michael Harvey
Sep 2 at 19:48










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes

















up vote
25
down vote



accepted










When you've got a something to verb of doing you have (pressing) obligations in respect to the something.



We've got a test to take. We must take a test.




We can't party tonight. We've got a test to take.




We've got a hole to dig. We must dig a hole.




We're not making much progress here. Come on guys, we've got a hole to dig!




We've got a cake to bake. We must bake a cake.




Stop playing with the spatula. Your cousin's visiting tomorrow. It's her birthday, and we've got a cake to bake.



Come on, kids! We've got a train to catch!







share|improve this answer


















  • 9




    Nice answer to cover the general form. One extra refinement though - the difference between "we've got to dig a hole" and "we've got a hole to dig" is that the latter implies you're being more specific about which hole is being dug, and also implies additional urgency.
    – Graham
    Sep 2 at 22:57

















up vote
19
down vote













I'm guessing that the confusion comes from the use of the word run.



There are a very large number of meanings for this word. The one being used here is described by Merriam-Webster:




6 c : to direct the business or activities of : manage, conduct • run a factory




In other words, the sentence can be thought of as:




They've got a hotel to take care of!




Or, to rephrase it some more:




They've got a hotel that needs to be taken care of by them.







share|improve this answer






















  • The way I read your final example suggests to me that they own the hotel, whereas in the general case, this type of construction doesn't imply ownership. I would interpret "they've got a hotel to run" more like "they need to run the hotel", rather than "they have a hotel that they need to run" (which is what your final example reads like to me).
    – Tom Fenech
    Sep 3 at 14:53










  • @TomFenech Interesting. I didn't think of it that way until you mentioned it. (I still don't read it that way if I don't have your point in mind.) I suppose you could say there's a hotel or they work at a hotel. Or just leave it as the shorter version. But there's a sense to they've got that seems more direct to me than just needing to do something. Kind of like "I've got this mess on my hands."
    – Jason Bassford
    Sep 3 at 15:07











  • I guess the easiest way to restructure would just be "they need to take care of a hotel", which leaves it completely ambiguous.
    – Tom Fenech
    Sep 3 at 15:10






  • 1




    "There is a very large number of meanings". Should be plural. "There are a very large number of meanings" or simply "There are many meanings". Sorry, I don't have edit permission.
    – Nigel Touch
    Sep 3 at 18:14











  • @NigelTouch Thanks!
    – Jason Bassford
    Sep 3 at 23:11

















up vote
2
down vote













To better understand the phrase, you can restructure it:




They've got a hotel to run




can be rearranged to




They've got to run a hotel




The construction they have (got) to indicates an obligation:




They need to run (manage/take care of) a hotel




Note that there is nothing to suggest ownership of the hotel in the phrase itself; this only comes from the context.






share|improve this answer




















    Your Answer







    StackExchange.ready(function()
    var channelOptions =
    tags: "".split(" "),
    id: "481"
    ;
    initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

    StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
    // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
    if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
    StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
    createEditor();
    );

    else
    createEditor();

    );

    function createEditor()
    StackExchange.prepareEditor(
    heartbeatType: 'answer',
    convertImagesToLinks: false,
    noModals: false,
    showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
    reputationToPostImages: null,
    bindNavPrevention: true,
    postfix: "",
    noCode: true, onDemand: true,
    discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
    ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
    );



    );













     

    draft saved


    draft discarded


















    StackExchange.ready(
    function ()
    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f178390%2fwhat-does-they-ve-got-a-hotel-to-run-mean%23new-answer', 'question_page');

    );

    Post as a guest






























    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes








    3 Answers
    3






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    25
    down vote



    accepted










    When you've got a something to verb of doing you have (pressing) obligations in respect to the something.



    We've got a test to take. We must take a test.




    We can't party tonight. We've got a test to take.




    We've got a hole to dig. We must dig a hole.




    We're not making much progress here. Come on guys, we've got a hole to dig!




    We've got a cake to bake. We must bake a cake.




    Stop playing with the spatula. Your cousin's visiting tomorrow. It's her birthday, and we've got a cake to bake.



    Come on, kids! We've got a train to catch!







    share|improve this answer


















    • 9




      Nice answer to cover the general form. One extra refinement though - the difference between "we've got to dig a hole" and "we've got a hole to dig" is that the latter implies you're being more specific about which hole is being dug, and also implies additional urgency.
      – Graham
      Sep 2 at 22:57














    up vote
    25
    down vote



    accepted










    When you've got a something to verb of doing you have (pressing) obligations in respect to the something.



    We've got a test to take. We must take a test.




    We can't party tonight. We've got a test to take.




    We've got a hole to dig. We must dig a hole.




    We're not making much progress here. Come on guys, we've got a hole to dig!




    We've got a cake to bake. We must bake a cake.




    Stop playing with the spatula. Your cousin's visiting tomorrow. It's her birthday, and we've got a cake to bake.



    Come on, kids! We've got a train to catch!







    share|improve this answer


















    • 9




      Nice answer to cover the general form. One extra refinement though - the difference between "we've got to dig a hole" and "we've got a hole to dig" is that the latter implies you're being more specific about which hole is being dug, and also implies additional urgency.
      – Graham
      Sep 2 at 22:57












    up vote
    25
    down vote



    accepted







    up vote
    25
    down vote



    accepted






    When you've got a something to verb of doing you have (pressing) obligations in respect to the something.



    We've got a test to take. We must take a test.




    We can't party tonight. We've got a test to take.




    We've got a hole to dig. We must dig a hole.




    We're not making much progress here. Come on guys, we've got a hole to dig!




    We've got a cake to bake. We must bake a cake.




    Stop playing with the spatula. Your cousin's visiting tomorrow. It's her birthday, and we've got a cake to bake.



    Come on, kids! We've got a train to catch!







    share|improve this answer














    When you've got a something to verb of doing you have (pressing) obligations in respect to the something.



    We've got a test to take. We must take a test.




    We can't party tonight. We've got a test to take.




    We've got a hole to dig. We must dig a hole.




    We're not making much progress here. Come on guys, we've got a hole to dig!




    We've got a cake to bake. We must bake a cake.




    Stop playing with the spatula. Your cousin's visiting tomorrow. It's her birthday, and we've got a cake to bake.



    Come on, kids! We've got a train to catch!








    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Sep 2 at 14:39

























    answered Sep 2 at 14:33









    Tᴚoɯɐuo

    93.3k670156




    93.3k670156







    • 9




      Nice answer to cover the general form. One extra refinement though - the difference between "we've got to dig a hole" and "we've got a hole to dig" is that the latter implies you're being more specific about which hole is being dug, and also implies additional urgency.
      – Graham
      Sep 2 at 22:57












    • 9




      Nice answer to cover the general form. One extra refinement though - the difference between "we've got to dig a hole" and "we've got a hole to dig" is that the latter implies you're being more specific about which hole is being dug, and also implies additional urgency.
      – Graham
      Sep 2 at 22:57







    9




    9




    Nice answer to cover the general form. One extra refinement though - the difference between "we've got to dig a hole" and "we've got a hole to dig" is that the latter implies you're being more specific about which hole is being dug, and also implies additional urgency.
    – Graham
    Sep 2 at 22:57




    Nice answer to cover the general form. One extra refinement though - the difference between "we've got to dig a hole" and "we've got a hole to dig" is that the latter implies you're being more specific about which hole is being dug, and also implies additional urgency.
    – Graham
    Sep 2 at 22:57












    up vote
    19
    down vote













    I'm guessing that the confusion comes from the use of the word run.



    There are a very large number of meanings for this word. The one being used here is described by Merriam-Webster:




    6 c : to direct the business or activities of : manage, conduct • run a factory




    In other words, the sentence can be thought of as:




    They've got a hotel to take care of!




    Or, to rephrase it some more:




    They've got a hotel that needs to be taken care of by them.







    share|improve this answer






















    • The way I read your final example suggests to me that they own the hotel, whereas in the general case, this type of construction doesn't imply ownership. I would interpret "they've got a hotel to run" more like "they need to run the hotel", rather than "they have a hotel that they need to run" (which is what your final example reads like to me).
      – Tom Fenech
      Sep 3 at 14:53










    • @TomFenech Interesting. I didn't think of it that way until you mentioned it. (I still don't read it that way if I don't have your point in mind.) I suppose you could say there's a hotel or they work at a hotel. Or just leave it as the shorter version. But there's a sense to they've got that seems more direct to me than just needing to do something. Kind of like "I've got this mess on my hands."
      – Jason Bassford
      Sep 3 at 15:07











    • I guess the easiest way to restructure would just be "they need to take care of a hotel", which leaves it completely ambiguous.
      – Tom Fenech
      Sep 3 at 15:10






    • 1




      "There is a very large number of meanings". Should be plural. "There are a very large number of meanings" or simply "There are many meanings". Sorry, I don't have edit permission.
      – Nigel Touch
      Sep 3 at 18:14











    • @NigelTouch Thanks!
      – Jason Bassford
      Sep 3 at 23:11














    up vote
    19
    down vote













    I'm guessing that the confusion comes from the use of the word run.



    There are a very large number of meanings for this word. The one being used here is described by Merriam-Webster:




    6 c : to direct the business or activities of : manage, conduct • run a factory




    In other words, the sentence can be thought of as:




    They've got a hotel to take care of!




    Or, to rephrase it some more:




    They've got a hotel that needs to be taken care of by them.







    share|improve this answer






















    • The way I read your final example suggests to me that they own the hotel, whereas in the general case, this type of construction doesn't imply ownership. I would interpret "they've got a hotel to run" more like "they need to run the hotel", rather than "they have a hotel that they need to run" (which is what your final example reads like to me).
      – Tom Fenech
      Sep 3 at 14:53










    • @TomFenech Interesting. I didn't think of it that way until you mentioned it. (I still don't read it that way if I don't have your point in mind.) I suppose you could say there's a hotel or they work at a hotel. Or just leave it as the shorter version. But there's a sense to they've got that seems more direct to me than just needing to do something. Kind of like "I've got this mess on my hands."
      – Jason Bassford
      Sep 3 at 15:07











    • I guess the easiest way to restructure would just be "they need to take care of a hotel", which leaves it completely ambiguous.
      – Tom Fenech
      Sep 3 at 15:10






    • 1




      "There is a very large number of meanings". Should be plural. "There are a very large number of meanings" or simply "There are many meanings". Sorry, I don't have edit permission.
      – Nigel Touch
      Sep 3 at 18:14











    • @NigelTouch Thanks!
      – Jason Bassford
      Sep 3 at 23:11












    up vote
    19
    down vote










    up vote
    19
    down vote









    I'm guessing that the confusion comes from the use of the word run.



    There are a very large number of meanings for this word. The one being used here is described by Merriam-Webster:




    6 c : to direct the business or activities of : manage, conduct • run a factory




    In other words, the sentence can be thought of as:




    They've got a hotel to take care of!




    Or, to rephrase it some more:




    They've got a hotel that needs to be taken care of by them.







    share|improve this answer














    I'm guessing that the confusion comes from the use of the word run.



    There are a very large number of meanings for this word. The one being used here is described by Merriam-Webster:




    6 c : to direct the business or activities of : manage, conduct • run a factory




    In other words, the sentence can be thought of as:




    They've got a hotel to take care of!




    Or, to rephrase it some more:




    They've got a hotel that needs to be taken care of by them.








    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Sep 3 at 23:11

























    answered Sep 2 at 15:15









    Jason Bassford

    8,6271926




    8,6271926











    • The way I read your final example suggests to me that they own the hotel, whereas in the general case, this type of construction doesn't imply ownership. I would interpret "they've got a hotel to run" more like "they need to run the hotel", rather than "they have a hotel that they need to run" (which is what your final example reads like to me).
      – Tom Fenech
      Sep 3 at 14:53










    • @TomFenech Interesting. I didn't think of it that way until you mentioned it. (I still don't read it that way if I don't have your point in mind.) I suppose you could say there's a hotel or they work at a hotel. Or just leave it as the shorter version. But there's a sense to they've got that seems more direct to me than just needing to do something. Kind of like "I've got this mess on my hands."
      – Jason Bassford
      Sep 3 at 15:07











    • I guess the easiest way to restructure would just be "they need to take care of a hotel", which leaves it completely ambiguous.
      – Tom Fenech
      Sep 3 at 15:10






    • 1




      "There is a very large number of meanings". Should be plural. "There are a very large number of meanings" or simply "There are many meanings". Sorry, I don't have edit permission.
      – Nigel Touch
      Sep 3 at 18:14











    • @NigelTouch Thanks!
      – Jason Bassford
      Sep 3 at 23:11
















    • The way I read your final example suggests to me that they own the hotel, whereas in the general case, this type of construction doesn't imply ownership. I would interpret "they've got a hotel to run" more like "they need to run the hotel", rather than "they have a hotel that they need to run" (which is what your final example reads like to me).
      – Tom Fenech
      Sep 3 at 14:53










    • @TomFenech Interesting. I didn't think of it that way until you mentioned it. (I still don't read it that way if I don't have your point in mind.) I suppose you could say there's a hotel or they work at a hotel. Or just leave it as the shorter version. But there's a sense to they've got that seems more direct to me than just needing to do something. Kind of like "I've got this mess on my hands."
      – Jason Bassford
      Sep 3 at 15:07











    • I guess the easiest way to restructure would just be "they need to take care of a hotel", which leaves it completely ambiguous.
      – Tom Fenech
      Sep 3 at 15:10






    • 1




      "There is a very large number of meanings". Should be plural. "There are a very large number of meanings" or simply "There are many meanings". Sorry, I don't have edit permission.
      – Nigel Touch
      Sep 3 at 18:14











    • @NigelTouch Thanks!
      – Jason Bassford
      Sep 3 at 23:11















    The way I read your final example suggests to me that they own the hotel, whereas in the general case, this type of construction doesn't imply ownership. I would interpret "they've got a hotel to run" more like "they need to run the hotel", rather than "they have a hotel that they need to run" (which is what your final example reads like to me).
    – Tom Fenech
    Sep 3 at 14:53




    The way I read your final example suggests to me that they own the hotel, whereas in the general case, this type of construction doesn't imply ownership. I would interpret "they've got a hotel to run" more like "they need to run the hotel", rather than "they have a hotel that they need to run" (which is what your final example reads like to me).
    – Tom Fenech
    Sep 3 at 14:53












    @TomFenech Interesting. I didn't think of it that way until you mentioned it. (I still don't read it that way if I don't have your point in mind.) I suppose you could say there's a hotel or they work at a hotel. Or just leave it as the shorter version. But there's a sense to they've got that seems more direct to me than just needing to do something. Kind of like "I've got this mess on my hands."
    – Jason Bassford
    Sep 3 at 15:07





    @TomFenech Interesting. I didn't think of it that way until you mentioned it. (I still don't read it that way if I don't have your point in mind.) I suppose you could say there's a hotel or they work at a hotel. Or just leave it as the shorter version. But there's a sense to they've got that seems more direct to me than just needing to do something. Kind of like "I've got this mess on my hands."
    – Jason Bassford
    Sep 3 at 15:07













    I guess the easiest way to restructure would just be "they need to take care of a hotel", which leaves it completely ambiguous.
    – Tom Fenech
    Sep 3 at 15:10




    I guess the easiest way to restructure would just be "they need to take care of a hotel", which leaves it completely ambiguous.
    – Tom Fenech
    Sep 3 at 15:10




    1




    1




    "There is a very large number of meanings". Should be plural. "There are a very large number of meanings" or simply "There are many meanings". Sorry, I don't have edit permission.
    – Nigel Touch
    Sep 3 at 18:14





    "There is a very large number of meanings". Should be plural. "There are a very large number of meanings" or simply "There are many meanings". Sorry, I don't have edit permission.
    – Nigel Touch
    Sep 3 at 18:14













    @NigelTouch Thanks!
    – Jason Bassford
    Sep 3 at 23:11




    @NigelTouch Thanks!
    – Jason Bassford
    Sep 3 at 23:11










    up vote
    2
    down vote













    To better understand the phrase, you can restructure it:




    They've got a hotel to run




    can be rearranged to




    They've got to run a hotel




    The construction they have (got) to indicates an obligation:




    They need to run (manage/take care of) a hotel




    Note that there is nothing to suggest ownership of the hotel in the phrase itself; this only comes from the context.






    share|improve this answer
























      up vote
      2
      down vote













      To better understand the phrase, you can restructure it:




      They've got a hotel to run




      can be rearranged to




      They've got to run a hotel




      The construction they have (got) to indicates an obligation:




      They need to run (manage/take care of) a hotel




      Note that there is nothing to suggest ownership of the hotel in the phrase itself; this only comes from the context.






      share|improve this answer






















        up vote
        2
        down vote










        up vote
        2
        down vote









        To better understand the phrase, you can restructure it:




        They've got a hotel to run




        can be rearranged to




        They've got to run a hotel




        The construction they have (got) to indicates an obligation:




        They need to run (manage/take care of) a hotel




        Note that there is nothing to suggest ownership of the hotel in the phrase itself; this only comes from the context.






        share|improve this answer












        To better understand the phrase, you can restructure it:




        They've got a hotel to run




        can be rearranged to




        They've got to run a hotel




        The construction they have (got) to indicates an obligation:




        They need to run (manage/take care of) a hotel




        Note that there is nothing to suggest ownership of the hotel in the phrase itself; this only comes from the context.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Sep 3 at 23:11









        Tom Fenech

        1435




        1435



























             

            draft saved


            draft discarded















































             


            draft saved


            draft discarded














            StackExchange.ready(
            function ()
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f178390%2fwhat-does-they-ve-got-a-hotel-to-run-mean%23new-answer', 'question_page');

            );

            Post as a guest













































































            Comments

            Popular posts from this blog

            What does second last employer means? [closed]

            List of Gilmore Girls characters

            Confectionery