Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
a thorn in my side

a thorn in my side

Date: Sep 10 2003

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

”’Kiss from a Rose’ was a hideous video. It’s forever been a thorn in my side. It’s probably up there with the worst videos I’ve ever seen, but it was one of those situations where I completely trusted the director.”
- Seal, singer/songwriter, talking about the worst music video he’s ever made.

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

a continual cause of annoyance, feeling that makes one uncomfortable, something that gives one feelings of pain and/or painful memories, something irritating

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

You can use “a thorn in my side” to describe anything that is annoying you. For example, if you dislike math, your math class at school could be a thorn in your side. Or, if you did really poorly on a math test, your memory of that math test could be a constant thorn in your side. An irritating person can also be a thorn in your side. Your little brother, for example, might be a thorn in your side if he’s always doing things that make you angry.

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

””The bad grade I got in my history class will always be a thorn in my side. Because of that one bad grade, I can’t go to the college that I want to go to. It sucks.”“

””Jeffrey is such a little punk. He’s so annoying. I wish he would just leave. I wonder when he’s going to stop being a thorn in my side. I’m so sick of him.”“

””My computer used to be a big thorn in my side because it was having some major problems. However, I recently got it fixed, and now everything is OK.”“

””Are you going to be my friend, or are you going to be a thorn in my side? I need to know right now if we’re going to be able to get along.”“

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

The hideous video has been ‘a thorn in my side’ means that it has been a continual cause of annoyance to him.
by lucia (Hong Kong, China)
It’s a feeling, a pain or something that hurts you, which never it’s going to leave you. Always it’s going to be with you making you feel uncomfortable. (But we have to try to get it out from our heart).
by Andrea (Antofagasta, Chile)
a thorn in my side: A stain in my life. Something I don´t want to remember because it is humilliating, embarrasing.
by Alejandro (Mexico City, Mexico)
means something that always makes me uncomfortable, something gave me painful memory, something I want to get rid of (but I can’t).
by Yak (Beijing, China)
A person or thing that repeatedly annoys somebody or stops them from doing something.
by salerno (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)
A ‘thorn’ usually means one specific part of plants, but ‘thorn in one’s mind’ metaphorically means a chronic problem or a distress.
by Ji Yi (Seoul, South Korea)
Maybe it means he has done a very bad thing, and it always make him feel sorry and sad. it may will be bad for his reputation.
by kelly (Dongyang, China)
I think the meaning is something make somebody feel unhappy. the person feel ill once he thinks of that.
by Puff (SZ, China)
I guess it means painful recall
by xiaojun (Hangzhou, China)
a thorn in my side” to talk about a situation or experience that annoys you.
by Dana (Dubai, UAE)
I think “a thorn in my side” means something or someone that bothers or keeps causing pain…
by Farah (Mishref, Kuwait)
It means “someone feels uncomfort when he looks at something.”
by chuanzi (Haikou, P.R.china)
Is when I or somebody have a bother about something done in the past.
by Javier (Toluca, Mexico)
A thorn in my side, is something you would like to forget, but don’t get.
by telma (Arambare, Brazil)
One that causes sharp pain, irritation, or discomfort
by Zhonghai (Beijing, China)
A thorn in my side” means something that causes sharp pain, irritation, or discomfort.
by Sherry (ShenZhen, China)
a thorn in my side—like big trouble or torture trouble someone.
by Emily (Qinhuangdao, China)
kind of harm or incident hurt a person deeply in heart
by Jannie (Palmerston North, New Zealand)
I think it´s a hardly thing you have to do. It’s sound like a punishment.
by Sueli (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)
Something you don’t like
by Pei (CQ, China)
Very difficult thing
by joann (Pelham, USA)
impossible thing
by richard (Darien, USA)

Want to guess next week's slang?

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Comments

Log in to Comment

La Princesse de la vie

Egypt

The equivalent idiom of this one here is “A thorn in my throat” in Arabic, I think both are fit and meaningful.


09:13 PM Apr 09 2016 |

Likes (11):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast