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look over one's shoulder. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
look over one's shoulder, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
look over one's shoulder in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Verb
look over one's shoulder
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see look, over, shoulder.
1962 May, G. Freeman Allen, “Traffic control on the Great Northern Line”, in Modern Railways, page 343:Once I visited the Kings Cross office on an extremely foggy day and about 3.45 I was looking over the shoulder of the Section Controller for the Kings Cross-Finsbury Park stretch.
2021, Michael Farris Smith, chapter 28, in Nick, New York, Boston, London: Little, Brown and Company, page 150:Nick walked over and touched the brass knob, looked over his shoulder as if Judah may be watching from the doorway.
- (idiomatic) To check obsessively out of excessive caution or fear of a perceived danger.
This is a cutthroat industry. You have to constantly look over your shoulder.
Usage notes
One person can also look over another person's shoulder, especially when watching what they are doing.
Translations
check obsessively out of fear
References