"Have as lief" is an archaic phrase that means "would rather." While it was commonly used in the past, today it is rarely used in everyday conversation or writing. Instead, there are several synonyms that can be used to convey the same meaning, such as "prefer," "opt for," "choose," "favor," and "select." These words are much more commonly used in modern English and can help to make your writing more clear and concise. Whether you're writing a formal essay or simply having a conversation with someone, using one of these synonyms instead of "have as lief" can help to make your meaning much clearer.