Definition

Noun: - A source of annoyance or trouble: A person, thing, or situation that is very irritating, bothersome, or difficult to deal with.

Usage

This phrase is an informal idiom used to describe something or someone that causes persistent annoyance, inconvenience, or frustration. It is often used in casual conversation.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "To be a pain in the neck": To behave in an irritating or troublesome manner.
  • The new software update is being a real pain in the neck; it keeps crashing.

Variants and Related Words

• Pain in the ass/butt (vulgar): A much stronger, vulgar synonym with the same meaning.
• Nuisance (n): A more formal word for an annoying person or thing.
• Bother (n): Something that causes minor trouble or annoyance.

Synonyms

• Annoyance
• Irritant
• Headache (informal)
• Hassle (informal)
• Thorn in one's side (idiom)

Related Idioms

• A thorn in one's side: A persistent problem or source of annoyance.
  • The unresolved bug in the code has been a thorn in my side for weeks.

Noun

1. something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness
   • washing dishes was a nuisance before we got a dish washer
   • a bit of a bother
   • he's not a friend, he's an infliction
2. a bothersome annoying person
   • that kid is a terrible pain