thorn in someone's side

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thorn in someone's side (plural thorns in someone's side)

1. (idiomatic) A persistent annoyance.
   • 1995, “The Sword of Kahless”, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, season 4, episode 8 (Science Fiction), spoken by Kor, →OCLC:

     Wait. Let this moment be remembered. For on this day, we three -- Kor, Dahar Master of the Klingons, Jadzia Dax, a joined Trill of seven lives, and Worf, son of Mogh and thorn in Gowron's side -- together stepped forth into the eye of destiny.

   • 2014 March 9, Jacob Steinberg, “Wigan shock Manchester City in FA Cup again to reach semi-finals”, in The Guardian:

     All the billions in the world and Manchester City still cannot rid themselves of the most persistent thorn in their side.

   • 2023 July 22, Andrew Anthony, “The pro-extinctionist philosopher who has sparked a battle over humanity’s future”, in The Observer‎^[1], →ISSN:

     Up until now, Torres has been best known through their trenchant pieces for magazines such as Salon, aeon and Foreign Policy as a thorn in the side of the longtermist movement.

• thorn in the flesh

• bone in the throat
• chip on one's shoulder