# hang over someone's head

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hang-over-someones-head
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- 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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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.