a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side

idiom

: a person or thing that repeatedly annoys someone or something or causes problems

He's been a thorn in my side for years.

a thorn in the side of the industry

Examples of a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Lai, a billionaire media tycoon who had long been a thorn in the side of Beijing, was arrested in August 2020, shortly after the central Chinese government imposed a national security law that criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. —

Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024 Despite the easing of the inflation rate, still-high prices remain a thorn in the side of consumers, which may explain the dismal Gallup Poll results. —

Jill Schlesinger, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024 The lawsuit, filed by California resident Victor Cho, alleges a violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act, a federal law barring the disclosure of information about viewing habits that’s long been a thorn in the side of streaming providers. —

Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024 The bond market has been a thorn in the side of equities lately. —

Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side

Dictionary Entries Near a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side

Athonite

a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side

athort

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“A thorn in the/someone's flesh/side.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20thorn%20in%20the%2Fsomeone%27s%20flesh%2Fside. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

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