C1idiomnatureIELTS-friendly
a thorn in your side
USUK
a person or problem that keeps annoying you
Vietnamese says 'cái gai trong mắt', but English uses 'side', not 'eye'. 'A thorn in the flesh' is a rarer variant.
In context
A noisy neighbour can be a thorn in your side for years.
The delayed permit has been a thorn in my side all year.
Common mistake
Incorrect: My brother-in-law is a thorn in my eyes.
Correct: My brother-in-law is a thorn in my side.
More idioms about nature
- a big fish in a small pondan important person, but only in a small group or place
- a bird's-eye viewa view of something from high above
- a breath of fresh airsomeone or something new and different that makes a situation more pleasant
- a dark horsea person with hidden talents, or a competitor nobody expected to do well
- a drop in the oceana very small amount compared with what is needed