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a pain in the neck
01
a person or thing that causes one great annoyance or a lot of difficulty
What is the origin of the idiom "a pain in the neck" and when to use it?
The idiom "a pain in the neck" uses the metaphor of physical discomfort or annoyance in the neck area to express a sense of frustration or exasperation. It is used to convey the idea that the person or thing being referred to is causing significant inconvenience or annoyance, similar to a persistent pain in the neck.
Example
Dealing with all the paperwork and bureaucracy at the government office is such a pain in the neck.
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