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 bond market has been a thorn in the side of equities lately.
—
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024
Manchin, a moderate who has often been a thorn in the side of Democratic leadership, opted to leave the party and register as an independent in May.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
Between the lines: Perry has been a thorn in the side of both Johnson and his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), as the former chair of the House Freedom Caucus.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024
By starting small, demonstrating effectiveness, engaging stakeholders and scaling strategically, CIOs can lead their organizations toward a more secure future without becoming a thorn in the side of their business.
—Jaushin Lee, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for a thorn in the/someone's flesh/side 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024
Manchin, a moderate who has often been a thorn in the side of Democratic leadership, opted to leave the party and register as an independent in May.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2024
Between the lines: Perry has been a thorn in the side of both Johnson and his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), as the former chair of the House Freedom Caucus.
—Andrew Solender, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024
By starting small, demonstrating effectiveness, engaging stakeholders and scaling strategically, CIOs can lead their organizations toward a more secure future without becoming a thorn in the side of their business.
—Jaushin Lee, Forbes, 10 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
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 7 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share