English Idiom – Pain in the neck.
Someone or something that is very annoying or difficult to deal with.
It’s informal and very common. You can use it about people (“My little brother is a pain in the neck“) or situations (“Filling in these forms is a real pain in the neck“). A ruder version you may hear is “a pain in the backside”.
Related Expressions:
- Like a bear with a sore head (idiom) – in a very bad mood.
- Blow up (phrasal verb) – suddenly become very angry.
- Storm out (phrasal verb) – leave angrily.
Usage:
- Your brother or sister won’t let you work in peace.
- A neighbour’s dog barks all night.
- A task is annoyingly difficult.
Example:
- “Will you just leave me alone? I’ve got a zillion things to finish! You’re such a pain in the neck!”
In the News
Spotted in the news“Especially in that first half, I thought he was a real pain in the neck for the Blackburn defence.”footballleagueworld.co.ukWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Someone or something that is very annoying.
Yes. A task or situation can be a pain in the neck, for example “Parking here is a pain in the neck.”
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