hang over someone's head
To threaten (someone); to act as a constant preoccupation for (someone).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“That unpaid debt hangs over my head every day.”
“The fear of losing his job hangs over his head while he waits for the company's final decision.”
“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.”
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another nail in someone's coffin
An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.
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answer someone's prayers
To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
- 03
answer to someone's prayers
Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
- 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.
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bane of someone's existence
Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.
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bang one's head against a brick wall
To waste effort on a futile project.
- 07
bang some heads together
Attempt to get results from a previously ineffectual or argumentative group, typically by coercion or force.
- 08
bash someone's face in
To beat someone violently.
Last updated August 10, 2026