pain in the ass
Something or someone that causes discomfort, frustration, or annoyance.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“This broken printer is a real pain in the ass.”
“Filling out these complicated tax forms every year is a total pain in the ass.”
“Dealing with the constant bureaucratic delays proved to be a significant pain in the ass for the project manager.”
The expression emerged in the early to mid-20th century, dysphemistically modelled after the more polite *pain in the neck*. It replaces the cervical discomfort of the original with a lower anatomical focus, though the underlying sentiment remains one of persistent inconvenience.
- 01
ass over teakettle
Tumbling upside down.
- 02
beat someone's ass
To thrash someone.
- 03
bite my ass
Go away!; an expression of disdain or dismissal.
- 04
bite my shiny metal ass
An expression of discontent or aggravation to another party.
- 05
bust ass
To work hard, especially when trying to achieve a goal.
- 06
cover someone's ass
To make preparations or take precautions to ensure that a person is not blamed or punished for his or her conduct.
- 07
drag ass
To move slowly, or lag behind.
- 08
find one's ass with both hands and a flashlight
Synonym of know one's ass from a hole in the ground.
Last updated August 10, 2026