• 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).