have my hair cut (have / get something done)
have my hair cut (have / get something done) means “have/get something done: arrange for someone else to do it”. have/get + something + past participle means you arrange for someone else to do the job, not do it yourself: I had my hair cut = a hairdresser cut it for me. Formation: have / get + object + past participle (V-ed)
have/get something done: arrange for someone else to do it
B1Formation
have / get + object + past participle (V-ed)
Explanation
have/get + something + past participle means you arrange for someone else to do the job, not do it yourself: I had my hair cut = a hairdresser cut it for me. The past participle (V-ed) carries a passive meaning about the object. get is more informal than have: We got the windows cleaned. The same pattern can also describe something unpleasant that happens to you: She had her bike stolen.
Examples
Note
Compare doing it yourself: I cut my hair (I did it) vs I had my hair cut (someone cut it). Word order is fixed: the object goes before the past participle, never after.
FAQ
have my hair cut (have / get something done) — what does it mean and how is it used?
have/get something done: arrange for someone else to do it. have/get + something + past participle means you arrange for someone else to do the job, not do it yourself: I had my hair cut = a hairdresser cut it for me. The past participle (V-ed) carries a passive meaning about the object. get is more informal than have: We got the windows cleaned. The same pattern can also describe something unpleasant that happens to you: She had her bike stolen.
have my hair cut (have / get something done) — how do you form it?
have / get + object + past participle (V-ed)
have my hair cut (have / get something done) — any usage notes?
Compare doing it yourself: I cut my hair (I did it) vs I had my hair cut (someone cut it). Word order is fixed: the object goes before the past participle, never after.