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Reader question: “What does “breathing down my neck” mean exactly in this quote: “If one of you wants to drive, let me know, otherwise quit breathing down my neck.” My comments: It appears that the speaker is driving a car and he (or she) is asking passengers not to keep bothering him (or her). Literally, “breathing down my neck” means that some of the passengers are getting so close to the driver that he (or she) can feel their breaths blowing like tiny gusts of wind down the neck area. Clearly, the passengers are getting too close to the driver and making it impossible for the driver to concentrate on driving – without any unwanted attention and distraction. What the speaker means to tell the passengers is this: “If anyone wants to drive, take my seat. Otherwise, keep clear of the driving area. Don’t touch me on the shoulder. Don’t talk to me.” “And, above all, stop giving me directions or instructions.” Actually, this last may be what the speaker really wants to say to the passengers. He’s probably been told to drive this way or that way, to take this route or that route, to make a left turn or a right turn. Or to drive straight ahead. This maybe happening again and again and finally the driver gets annoyed. He snaps and says what he says – “quit breathing down my neck”. Conjecture aside, that’s what “breathing down the neck” means. It means, first, that someone is getting too close to us otherwise we won’t be able to feel their breaths. Second, it means they’re giving us constant attention, so much so that their attention becomes annoying. | 
