A thorn in one's flesh
Idioms & PhrasesMEDIUM
a continual source of annoyance or trouble
A thorn in one's flesh
Idioms & PhrasesMEDIUM
a continual source of annoyance or trouble
Learning Progress
Examples
"This recurring software bug is a thorn in my flesh — we can't get stable releases out."
"His constant complaints became a thorn in her flesh during the project."
Mnemonic Trick
Think of a small thorn that keeps pricking and hurting repeatedly.
Cultural Context
Biblical phrasing originally; used widely for persistent problems.
Source: Idioms & PhrasesAdded: 11/13/2025
Continue Learning
Community Stats
Active Learners35
Words Being Learned124
Words Mastered424
Track Your Progress
Sign up to save your favorite words and track your learning progress across all vocabulary types.