pain in the neck

Idioms

Also,. A source of annoyance, a nuisance, as in Joan is a real pain in the neck, with her constant complaining, or Jack told his brother to stop being a pain in the ass. The first of these colloquial expressions dates from about 1900 and originated as a euphemism for the two less polite variants.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This isn’t merely a pain in the neck for Mr. Mandelson.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Dr. Sollmann pointed out that non-invasive treatment options that directly target the site of pain in the neck muscles could be highly effective and safer than systemic drugs.

From Science Daily • Nov. 29, 2023

It came into being in 1917, when Congress grew weary of having to vote on every proposed bond issuance, which it considered a pain in the neck.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2023

“It was as much a pain in the neck as it was a beauty to be in.”

From Washington Post • Jan. 20, 2023

He used to think I was a real pain in the neck, and the feeling was mutual.

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023