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Look over One's Shoulder

What Does "Look over One's Shoulder" Mean?

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"Look over one's shoulder" is an English idiom. It means "to be anxious or wary, especially because one feels that someone poses a threat or is watching them."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "look over one's shoulder" used in a sentence:
  • Ever since he accepted that controversial project, he's been looking over his shoulder.
  • With all the espionage in the movie, the main character is constantly looking over his shoulder.
  • Living in a high-crime area, residents often feel they have to look over their shoulder.
meaning for look over one's shoulder

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Look over One's Shoulder" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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