pain in the neck

Idioms  

1. 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

But of course that would mean having a friend over, and a friend was nothing but a pain in the neck.

From Literature

This girl could give a fellow a pain in the neck.

From Literature

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Some kids said no, but a lot of kids said yes because they figured Howard was going to be a pain in the neck.

From Literature

Boys were nothing but a pain in the neck, I mumbled, for my ears and those of the two horses.

From Literature