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Does "to have something on someone" connote wrongdoing, or is it innocuous?

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    It connotes potential blackmail. If A has something on B, then A knows something that B would prefer that no one else knew. A past indiscretion or a present crime, for instance. Commented Nov 17, 2018 at 20:26
  • For context, the question is whether there is an implication of wrongdoing on the part of B, or whether the only implication of wrongdoing is on the part of A. In the event that a third party, C, inquires with B as to whether A has something on him or her, is B justified in feeling insulted?
    – AeonKitteh
    Commented Nov 18, 2018 at 17:16

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to have something on someone YourDictionary.com

you know some fact or secret, or that you have some specific skill or position, that gives you power over another person.

An example of having something on someone is knowing your friend is has 'crush' on X, and you threaten to tell X of this if your friend does/ does not do Y.

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