ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hang over someone's head

idiom
Meaning

To threaten (someone); to act as a constant preoccupation for (someone).


Examples
SIMPLE

That unpaid debt hangs over my head every day.

CONTEXTUAL

The fear of losing his job hangs over his head while he waits for the company's final decision.

COMPLEX

Even after the trial concluded, the shadow of his past mistakes continued to hang over his head, preventing him from finding peace in his new life.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    another nail in someone's coffin

    An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.

  2. 02

    answer someone's prayers

    To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  3. 03

    answer to someone's prayers

    Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.

  4. 04

    apple of someone's eye

    The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.

  5. 05

    bane of someone's existence

    Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.

  6. 06

    bang one's head against a brick wall

    To waste effort on a futile project.

  7. 07

    bang some heads together

    Attempt to get results from a previously ineffectual or argumentative group, typically by coercion or force.

  8. 08

    bash someone's face in

    To beat someone violently.

Last updated July 12, 2026