jemanden auf dem Kieker haben
to have it in for someone; to watch someone closely waiting to catch them out
Origin
'Kieker' is a chiefly Northern/Low German word for a telescope or binoculars (from 'kieken' = to look), attested in seafaring since the 18th century. To have someone 'auf dem Kieker' is to have them figuratively in your spyglass and to watch them closely.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- beziehungsweise / bzw. (respectively, or)beziehungsweise (bzw.)
- Counterfactual result clauses („zu … als dass“)Irreale Konsekutivsätze („zu … als dass“)
Examples
Seit dem hat der ihn auf dem Kieker.
Ever since the argument, the boss has really had it in for him.