наступить на хвост

• НАСТУПАТЬ/НАСТУПИТЬ НА ХВОСТ кому highly coll

[VP]

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1. [subj: human or collect]

⇒ to be following s.o. very closely and be about to catch up to him:

- X наступает Y-y на хвост{{}}≈ X is (right) on Y's tail;

- X is in hot pursuit of Y;

- X is breathing down Y's neck.

     ♦ Они поспешно отходили - противник наступал им на хвост. They were beating a fast retreat because the enemy was right on their tail.

2. [subj: human]

⇒ to offend s.o., encroach upon his sphere of interests:

- X наступил Y-y на хвост{{}}≈ X stepped on Y's toes.

     ♦ "Не злись... ты злишься, как будто я у тебя девочку увел. Ведь она же ничья была, совершенно одна и ничья, я никому не наступил на хвост..." (Аксёнов 7). "Pipe down...pipe down! You'd think she was yours the way you're reacting. She's a free agent, her own woman. I haven't stepped on anybody's toes" (7a).