IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishbreathe down someone's neck
Meaning: To watch someone too closely, or to be close behind them.
Example: “I can't work with the manager breathing down my neck.”
Origin: Someone standing so close behind you that you feel their breath. It is common from the mid-20th century, possibly from horse racing, where a close rival breathes down the leader's neck.
Equivalents in other languages
Turkish: İki ayağını bir pabuca sokmak Literally: To stuff someone's two feet into one shoe
French: Marquer à la culotte Literally: To mark at the shorts
More English idioms
- champ at the bit To be impatient to start.
- at cross purposes To misunderstand each other or work toward conflicting goals.
- a Bible thumper A person who is aggressively or tiresomely religious.
- walk into the lion's den To go deliberately into a dangerous or hostile place.
- an old sea dog An experienced old sailor.
- have eyes like a hawk To have very sharp eyesight, or to notice every detail.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Harryhandel The day trip over the border into Sweden to buy meat, sweets and drink far cheaper than a…
- Matpakke The plain packed lunch of open sandwiches in paper, eaten at your desk — a small national…
- Takk for sist A greeting that thanks someone for the previous occasion you met, acknowledging shared hi…
Keep exploring