thorn in someone's side

plural thorns in someone's side

1. idiomaticA persistent annoyance.

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

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

   3 more examples

   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.

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

   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.

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

   The sculpture’s spotlight on Trump’s past relationship with the convicted sex trafficker underscores what has been a particularly persistent thorn in the president’s side, and has caused fissures in the Trump’s typically united Maga base.

   2025 September 24, Cy Neff, “New statue on National Mall celebrates ‘long-lasting bond’ between Trump and Epstein”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   Synonyms: thorn in the flesh