breathe down one's neck

/bɹˈiːð dˌaʊn wˈɒnz nˈɛk/

/bɹˈiːð dˌaʊn wˈʌnz nˈɛk/

[phrase]

to breathe down one's neck

[PHRASE]

to closely watch someone and everything they do, particularly in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable

to [breathe] down {one's} neck definition and meaning

What is the origin of the idiom "breathe down one's neck" and when to use it?

The idiom "breathe down one's neck" is believed to have originated from the literal act of someone standing so close behind another person that they can feel their breath on their neck. This phrase is used in various contexts to describe situations where someone feels closely watched, monitored, or pressured by another person or group. It is often used to convey a sense of discomfort, unease, or intrusion.

Examples

1. His parents are always breathing down his neck.

2. It's awful having a boss who breathes down your neck all the time.

3. And while he no longer had Faber actively breathing down his neck, the fighter he had grown into and the place he had established himself in was in part thanks to his long time rival.

4. You're breathing down my neck, literally.

Nearby words