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
The network's Farda news service reports intensely on life in Iran and is a thorn in the side of the regime there.
—
David Folkenflik, NPR, 10 Mar. 2025
Despite its limitations, the agency had become a thorn in the side of some of the richest and most powerful people in the nation — notably Elon Musk, Trump’s key supporter both financially and arguably politically.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
However, officials warn that H5N1 is lethal to cats
For now, the virus remains mostly a thorn in the side of U.S. consumers fed up with inflation.
—Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2025
The lesser prairie chicken, which was listed in 2023, is similarly a thorn in the side of many Republicans lawmakers.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side
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David Folkenflik, NPR, 10 Mar. 2025
Despite its limitations, the agency had become a thorn in the side of some of the richest and most powerful people in the nation — notably Elon Musk, Trump’s key supporter both financially and arguably politically.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
However, officials warn that H5N1 is lethal to cats
For now, the virus remains mostly a thorn in the side of U.S. consumers fed up with inflation.
—Anne Marie Lee, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2025
The lesser prairie chicken, which was listed in 2023, is similarly a thorn in the side of many Republicans lawmakers.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side
Cite this Entry
“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 17 Mar. 2025.
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