hang over one's head

hang over one's head (third-person singular simple present hangs over one's head, present participle hanging over one's head, simple past and past participle hung over one's head)

1. (idiomatic) With the threat or negative prospect of; acting as a constant preoccupation.
   • 2010, Patricia A. Millett et al., "United States v. Stevens, Respondent's brief", page 22:

     So Congress enacted a statute, the net effect of which is to hinge the freedom to speak on the speaker’s willingness to run the gauntlet of post hoc value assessments by prosecutors and juries with a five year felony sentence hanging over his head.