pet peeve

[pet peev]

noun

1. a particular and often continual annoyance; personal bugbear.

   This train service is one of my pet peeves.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pet peeve¹

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20

Idioms and Phrases

A particular or recurring source of irritation, as in My pet peeve is that neighbor's cat running through my herb garden. [Early 1900s]

Example Sentences

I know that unnecessarily tall things are a pet peeve of Autumn’s, but I don’t understand why she seems so ready to go head-to-head with something this huge.

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I don’t know if that’s a pet peeve, it’s a genuine fear.

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I went to Italy for the first time two years ago and learned that one of their pet peeves is how we say “pistachio.”

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We know every secret, private joke and pet peeve about each other , based on memories woven so deeply into the L.A. backdrop, they can’t be undone.

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The wrappers are a nostalgic choice for Barrois, who started sculpting as an antsy 10-year-old with a Hot Wheels collection and a pet peeve.

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