hold over someone's head: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  Globalneutral
  • To hold an object physically above another person's head so that it is positioned over or above them.

  Examples

  Beta

  • The teacher held the book over the student's head to grab her attention.

    The teacher held an object physically above the student's head to grab her attention.

  • He held the trophy over his head proudly as the crowd cheered.

    He held an object physically above his head proudly as the crowd cheered.

  • Holding the lantern over her head, she searched for signs of the trail in the dark forest.

    Holding the lantern physically above her head, she searched for signs of the trail in the dark forest.

  • The child reached up and the parent held the toy over his head to make him jump.

    The parent held the toy physically above the child's head to make him jump.

• 2.

  USUKGlobalinformalneutral
  • To repeatedly remind or invoke a person's past mistake, failure, debt, or misfortune in order to criticize, intimidate, control, or gain leverage over them.

  Examples

  Beta

  • He still holds his ex-partner’s mistakes over her head during every argument.

    He repeatedly reminds his ex-partner of her mistakes to criticize or control her.

  • The boss held the employee’s missed deadline over his head to justify the demotion.

    The boss repeatedly invoked the employee’s past failure to justify the demotion.

  • Don't hold past errors over someone's head if you want to move forward positively.

    Don't repeatedly remind someone of past errors if you want to move forward positively.