hang over someone's head

present singular third person hangs over someone's head · participle present hanging over someone's head · participle past hung over someone's head · past hung over someone's head

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

   So Congress enacted a statute, the net effect of which is to hinge the freedom to speak on the speaker’s willingness to run the gauntlet of post hoc value assessments by prosecutors and juries with a five year felony sentence hanging over his head.

   2010, Patricia A. Millett et al., United States v. Stevens, Respondent's brief, page 22

   1 more example

   Lord Justice Roskill delivered the decision of the three justices, upholding the fines against the paper and editor Lemon. The justices also granted court costs to anti-gay crusader Mary Whitehouse, the person who brought the suit against the paper. A prison sentence hanging over Lemon's head was dismissed.

   1978 April 15, “London's Gay News Loses Blasphemy Appeal”, in Gay Community News, page 3