Last Updated：2025/11/19

(transitive, idiomatic) To harp on; to remind continuously (especially of a misstep or defeat).

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hold over someone's head

Source Word

hold over someone's head

Verb

idiomatic transitive

(transitive, idiomatic) To harp on; to remind continuously (especially of a misstep or defeat).

Japanese Meaning

相手の過去の失敗や恥などを引き合いに出し、常に責めたり非難したりする / 過去の失態をいつまでも根に持って、相手に圧力をかける

It's wrong to hold over someone's head their past mistake when they've already apologized.

すでに謝罪している人の過去の過ちをいつまでも蒸し返すのは間違っている。

Sense（1）

(transitive, idiomatic) To harp on; to remind continuously (especially of a misstep or defeat).

I get one parking ticket and he holds it over my head for six months.

holds over someone's head

（ present singular third-person ）

holding over someone's head

（ participle present ）

held over someone's head

（ participle past ）

held over someone's head

（ past ）