Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

live rent-free in someone's head

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.08 in modern English

Syllables: live ren-t-free in -some-one's -head
IPA

38

Scrabble Score

26

Letters

6

Syllables

14

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be the perpetual focus of someone's thoughts, with that person having no control over this situation.

American usage; Informal

Example Sentences

"Gem of the Day: Hanging onto resentment is letting someone you despise live rent free in your head."
"The difficult bosses then get under their skin and live “rent-free” in their heads long after they've left work and gone home to sleep."
"It may not seem that way, but this is a testament to Hillary's ability to successfully make such a mark on her opposition that she lives rent-free in their heads for decades."

Etymology

Often attributed to American advice columnist Eppie Lederer (1918–2002), who used it in her syndicated advice column in 1990.

Usage

American usage
Informal

Inflected Forms

lives rent-free in someone's head (present, singular) living rent-free in someone's head (participle, present) lived rent-free in someone's head (participle, past) lived rent-free in someone's head (past) live rent free in someone's head (alternative)

Synonyms

live rent-free in someone's mind

Questions

What does live rent-free in someone's head mean?: To be the perpetual focus of someone's thoughts, with that person having no control over this situation.
Where does live rent-free in someone's head come from?: Often attributed to American advice columnist Eppie Lederer (1918–2002), who used it in her syndicated advice column in 1990.

How to pronounce live rent-free in someone's head

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