thorn in one's side; bane
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
a thorn in one's flesh; the person one hates most; bane of one's existence
derogatoryOften appears in the longer phrase 眼中钉，肉中刺. The metaphor compares a hated person to a nail stuck in the eye—extremely painful and needing immediate removal.
Tā他
chéng成
le了
wǒ我
de的
yǎn眼
zhōng中
dīng钉
。
He has become the bane of my existence.
Tā他
shì是
lǎo老
bǎn板
de的
yǎn眼
zhōng中
dīng钉
。
He is a thorn in the boss's side.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Tā他
men们
hù互
wéi为
yǎn眼
zhōng中
dīng钉
，
jiàn见
miàn面
jiù就
chǎo吵
jià架
。
They are nemeses to each other, arguing every time they meet.
Zhè这
gè个
yǎn眼
zhōng中
dīng钉
zhōng终
yú于
chú除
diào掉
le了
。
This thorn has finally been removed.