live rent free in someone's head

Verb

US idiomatic

(US, idiomatic) To be a focus of a person's thoughts, with that person having no control over this situation.

Japanese Meaning

（誰かの頭の中に、本人の意志に反して居座り、絶えず考えられる状態） / （無意識のうちに、相手の思考や意識に大きな影響を与えている状態）

A catchy jingle can live rent free in someone's head for days.

キャッチーなジングルは何日も誰かの頭から離れず、その人がどうしても考え続けてしまうことがある。

Sense（1）

(US, idiomatic) To be a focus of a person's thoughts, with that person having no control over this situation.

Hanging on to resentment is letting someone you despise live rent free in your head.

lives rent free in someone's head

（ present singular third-person ）

living rent free in someone's head

（ participle present ）

lived rent free in someone's head

（ participle past ）

lived rent free in someone's head

（ past ）