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op de lip zitten

English translation: (kept) breathing down her neck

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:op de lip zitten
English translation:(kept) breathing down her neck
Entered by: Alexander Schleber (X)

17:45 Dec 11, 2012
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Dutch term or phrase: op de lip zitten
"Ik zat constant bij Paula op de lip en ik bemoeide me met zaken die zij al jaren regelde."

Does this mean something like "I watched every move ..."?

TIA
Alexander Schleber (X)
Belgium
Local time: 17:54
(kept) breathing down her neck
Explanation:
An idiom of physical over-closeness to match the feel of the original.
Selected response from:

Alexander C. Thomson
Netherlands
Local time: 17:54
Grading comment
The nicest way of formulating this. Thansk for all the suggestions.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1bother, bug, hassle
Chris Hopley
4 +1(kept) breathing down her neck
Alexander C. Thomson
4continually looking over her shoulder
Liesbeth Blom-Smith
3get in someone's way
Verginia Ophof


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
bother, bug, hassle


Explanation:
It's not so much watching her every move, but more bothering her, e.g.: "I was constantly bugging Paula and interfering with things that she'd handled for years".

See definition here: op iemands lip zitten = op een hinderlijke manier bij iemand in de buurt zijn
http://nl.thefreedictionary.com/op iemands lip zitten

Chris Hopley
Netherlands
Local time: 17:54
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 34

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Siobhan Schoonhoff-Reilly: Works for me!
16 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
get in someone's way


Explanation:
I was constantly getting in Paula's way and interfering with matters that she'd handled for years".

Example sentence(s):
  • op iemands lip zitten (=op een hinderlijke manier bij iemand in de buurt zijn) - be in the way

    Reference: http://www.mijnwoordenboek.nl/vertaal/NL/EN/lip
Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 09:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
(kept) breathing down her neck


Explanation:
An idiom of physical over-closeness to match the feel of the original.

Alexander C. Thomson
Netherlands
Local time: 17:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ScotsScots
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
The nicest way of formulating this. Thansk for all the suggestions.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marjolein Snippe
8 hrs
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
continually looking over her shoulder


Explanation:
Just another suggestion...

Liesbeth Blom-Smith
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:54
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 8
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