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A variation to the phrase “hanging over my shoulders”

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3

I couldn't find the exact definition of "hanging over someone's shoulders" online. I am not referring to the literal meaning, when, for example, you feel there is a ghost hanging over your shoulders.

How would you explain the idiom "hanging over someone's shoulders", and are there any other variations to the phrase?

meaning idioms

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

piltipilti

533

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am not sure feeling like there is a ghost hanging over your shoulders is a literal meaning; I would consider this figurative.
  
  – Mixolydian
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The only thing hanging over one shoulders would be a shawl or wrap or straps for a contraption. Otherwise, in the plural, it is a no-go.
  
  – Lambie
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Good point. You're right
  
  – pilti
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

I couldn't find the exact definition of "hanging over someone's shoulders" online. I am not referring to the literal meaning, when, for example, you feel there is a ghost hanging over your shoulders.

How would you explain the idiom "hanging over someone's shoulders", and are there any other variations to the phrase?

meaning idioms

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

piltipilti

533

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I am not sure feeling like there is a ghost hanging over your shoulders is a literal meaning; I would consider this figurative.
  
  – Mixolydian
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The only thing hanging over one shoulders would be a shawl or wrap or straps for a contraption. Otherwise, in the plural, it is a no-go.
  
  – Lambie
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Good point. You're right
  
  – pilti
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I couldn't find the exact definition of "hanging over someone's shoulders" online. I am not referring to the literal meaning, when, for example, you feel there is a ghost hanging over your shoulders.

How would you explain the idiom "hanging over someone's shoulders", and are there any other variations to the phrase?

meaning idioms

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

piltipilti

533

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

piltipilti

533

share|improve this question

asked yesterday

piltipilti

533

asked yesterday

piltipilti

533

asked yesterday

piltipilti

533

3 Answers
3

active

oldest

votes

7

It depends somewhat on the thing that is hanging over your shoulders, and how it is affecting you.

If you feel that you are being observed constantly, then someone or something is looking over your shoulder:

I can't concentrate with you looking over my shoulder all the time!

If you are uneasy because of some pressure or responsibility being placed upon you, there are a few phrases that would work:

I'm always stressed because of all the work that's been put on my shoulders.

I'd like to go out tonight, but I have an important deadline hanging over my head.

If something is irritating you because of its constant presence, you could say that it's on my back:

My boss is always on my back about getting these reports done.

If you can just barely sense the presence of something or someone, they might be lurking.

There were ghosts lurking in every corner, just out of sight.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

JesseJesse

1,352510

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  "Hanging around like a bad smell" might be an alternative, if the attention was unwanted.
  
  – Justin_In_Oz
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is "hanging over one's shoulder" a common phrase used? Looking/standing is what I found when I did a search for it.
  
  – pilti
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I don't think "hanging over one's shoulder" is a common phrase, which is why I didn't include it.
  
  – Jesse
  12 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

fall/rest on someone's shoulders means to be someone's responsibility.

All the work of cleaning fell on my shoulders.

But by extension hang can also be used in place of fall/rest.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

RubioRic

5,30911336

answered yesterday

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,026113

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  google.com/amp/s/www.macmillandictionary.com/amp/dictionary/…
  
  – Kshitij Singh
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  you should edit that link into the answer. Don't leave answer content in the comments
  
  – Aethenosity
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

I hear it in the singular, not plural. "Hanging over one's shoulder." When Tom (for example) is hanging over Steve's shoulder, Tom is looking at what Steve is looking at. The implication is that Steve does NOT want this; "hanging over one's shoulder" is usually a negative comment. "Tom, please stop hanging over my shoulder."

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Edward BarnardEdward Barnard

3765

New contributor

Edward Barnard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In Britain, I think we would be more likely to say "standing" or "looking" over one's shoulder, meaning excessively and dominantly supervising or checking what one is doing, or being inquisitive.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Michael Harvey You can be "hanging over someone's shoulder at a computer" or something like that. And that has nothing to do with BrE or AmE. But it would always be singular, yes.
  
  – Lambie
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  So "standing/looking over one's shoulder" is a phrase used instead of "hanging"? Is "hanging" wrong to use in this context?
  
  – pilti
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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7

It depends somewhat on the thing that is hanging over your shoulders, and how it is affecting you.

If you feel that you are being observed constantly, then someone or something is looking over your shoulder:

I can't concentrate with you looking over my shoulder all the time!

If you are uneasy because of some pressure or responsibility being placed upon you, there are a few phrases that would work:

I'm always stressed because of all the work that's been put on my shoulders.

I'd like to go out tonight, but I have an important deadline hanging over my head.

If something is irritating you because of its constant presence, you could say that it's on my back:

My boss is always on my back about getting these reports done.

If you can just barely sense the presence of something or someone, they might be lurking.

There were ghosts lurking in every corner, just out of sight.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

JesseJesse

1,352510

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  "Hanging around like a bad smell" might be an alternative, if the attention was unwanted.
  
  – Justin_In_Oz
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is "hanging over one's shoulder" a common phrase used? Looking/standing is what I found when I did a search for it.
  
  – pilti
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I don't think "hanging over one's shoulder" is a common phrase, which is why I didn't include it.
  
  – Jesse
  12 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

7

It depends somewhat on the thing that is hanging over your shoulders, and how it is affecting you.

If you feel that you are being observed constantly, then someone or something is looking over your shoulder:

I can't concentrate with you looking over my shoulder all the time!

If you are uneasy because of some pressure or responsibility being placed upon you, there are a few phrases that would work:

I'm always stressed because of all the work that's been put on my shoulders.

I'd like to go out tonight, but I have an important deadline hanging over my head.

If something is irritating you because of its constant presence, you could say that it's on my back:

My boss is always on my back about getting these reports done.

If you can just barely sense the presence of something or someone, they might be lurking.

There were ghosts lurking in every corner, just out of sight.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

JesseJesse

1,352510

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  "Hanging around like a bad smell" might be an alternative, if the attention was unwanted.
  
  – Justin_In_Oz
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is "hanging over one's shoulder" a common phrase used? Looking/standing is what I found when I did a search for it.
  
  – pilti
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I don't think "hanging over one's shoulder" is a common phrase, which is why I didn't include it.
  
  – Jesse
  12 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

It depends somewhat on the thing that is hanging over your shoulders, and how it is affecting you.

If you feel that you are being observed constantly, then someone or something is looking over your shoulder:

I can't concentrate with you looking over my shoulder all the time!

If you are uneasy because of some pressure or responsibility being placed upon you, there are a few phrases that would work:

I'm always stressed because of all the work that's been put on my shoulders.

I'd like to go out tonight, but I have an important deadline hanging over my head.

If something is irritating you because of its constant presence, you could say that it's on my back:

My boss is always on my back about getting these reports done.

If you can just barely sense the presence of something or someone, they might be lurking.

There were ghosts lurking in every corner, just out of sight.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

JesseJesse

1,352510

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

JesseJesse

1,352510

answered yesterday

JesseJesse

1,352510

answered yesterday

JesseJesse

1,352510

5

fall/rest on someone's shoulders means to be someone's responsibility.

All the work of cleaning fell on my shoulders.

But by extension hang can also be used in place of fall/rest.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

RubioRic

5,30911336

answered yesterday

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,026113

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  google.com/amp/s/www.macmillandictionary.com/amp/dictionary/…
  
  – Kshitij Singh
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  you should edit that link into the answer. Don't leave answer content in the comments
  
  – Aethenosity
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

fall/rest on someone's shoulders means to be someone's responsibility.

All the work of cleaning fell on my shoulders.

But by extension hang can also be used in place of fall/rest.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

RubioRic

5,30911336

answered yesterday

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,026113

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  google.com/amp/s/www.macmillandictionary.com/amp/dictionary/…
  
  – Kshitij Singh
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  you should edit that link into the answer. Don't leave answer content in the comments
  
  – Aethenosity
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

fall/rest on someone's shoulders means to be someone's responsibility.

All the work of cleaning fell on my shoulders.

But by extension hang can also be used in place of fall/rest.

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

RubioRic

5,30911336

answered yesterday

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,026113

share|improve this answer

edited yesterday

RubioRic

5,30911336

answered yesterday

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,026113

edited yesterday

RubioRic

5,30911336

edited yesterday

RubioRic

5,30911336

answered yesterday

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,026113

answered yesterday

Kshitij SinghKshitij Singh

1,026113

3

I hear it in the singular, not plural. "Hanging over one's shoulder." When Tom (for example) is hanging over Steve's shoulder, Tom is looking at what Steve is looking at. The implication is that Steve does NOT want this; "hanging over one's shoulder" is usually a negative comment. "Tom, please stop hanging over my shoulder."

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Edward BarnardEdward Barnard

3765

New contributor

Edward Barnard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In Britain, I think we would be more likely to say "standing" or "looking" over one's shoulder, meaning excessively and dominantly supervising or checking what one is doing, or being inquisitive.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Michael Harvey You can be "hanging over someone's shoulder at a computer" or something like that. And that has nothing to do with BrE or AmE. But it would always be singular, yes.
  
  – Lambie
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  So "standing/looking over one's shoulder" is a phrase used instead of "hanging"? Is "hanging" wrong to use in this context?
  
  – pilti
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

I hear it in the singular, not plural. "Hanging over one's shoulder." When Tom (for example) is hanging over Steve's shoulder, Tom is looking at what Steve is looking at. The implication is that Steve does NOT want this; "hanging over one's shoulder" is usually a negative comment. "Tom, please stop hanging over my shoulder."

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Edward BarnardEdward Barnard

3765

New contributor

Edward Barnard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In Britain, I think we would be more likely to say "standing" or "looking" over one's shoulder, meaning excessively and dominantly supervising or checking what one is doing, or being inquisitive.
  
  – Michael Harvey
  yesterday
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Michael Harvey You can be "hanging over someone's shoulder at a computer" or something like that. And that has nothing to do with BrE or AmE. But it would always be singular, yes.
  
  – Lambie
  yesterday
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  So "standing/looking over one's shoulder" is a phrase used instead of "hanging"? Is "hanging" wrong to use in this context?
  
  – pilti
  16 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I hear it in the singular, not plural. "Hanging over one's shoulder." When Tom (for example) is hanging over Steve's shoulder, Tom is looking at what Steve is looking at. The implication is that Steve does NOT want this; "hanging over one's shoulder" is usually a negative comment. "Tom, please stop hanging over my shoulder."

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Edward BarnardEdward Barnard

3765

New contributor

Edward Barnard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

share|improve this answer

answered yesterday

Edward BarnardEdward Barnard

3765

New contributor

Edward Barnard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

Edward BarnardEdward Barnard

3765

New contributor

Edward Barnard is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

answered yesterday

Edward BarnardEdward Barnard

3765