breathe down one's neck — to watch someone very closely in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable or nervous
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to watch someone very closely in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable or nervous
Pronunciation (IPA): /briːð daʊn wʌnz nek/
Korean meaning: 누군가를 아주 가까이서 감시하여 불편하거나 긴장하게 만들다, 바짝 감시하다
Korean pronunciation: 브**리**드 다운 원즈 **넥**
Example Sentences
- I can't concentrate with you breathing down my neck every five minutes!
- The teacher was breathing down the students' necks during the final exam.
- My mother-in-law has been breathing down my neck about the wedding preparations.
breathe down one's neck
NOUN//briːð daʊn wʌnz nek//
to watch someone very closely in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable or nervous
to watch someone very closely in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable or nervous
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
목 뒤에서 누군가의 숨이 느껴질 정도로 가까이 있다는 물리적 상황에서 유래된 관용구로, 1940년대부터 사용되기 시작했습니다. 실제로 누군가가 뒤에서 숨을 쉬면 목 뒤가 간지럽고 불편한 느낌을 주는 것처럼, 지나친 감시나 압박을 받는 상황을 표현합니다.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“I can't concentrate with you breathing down my neck every five minutes!”
“The teacher was breathing down the students' necks during the final exam.”
“My mother-in-law has been breathing down my neck about the wedding preparations.”
“The deadline is breathing down our necks, so we need to work faster.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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