# pain in the neck

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pain-in-the-neck
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Someone or something which is annoying, irritating or inconvenient.

## Examples

- That loud neighbor is a real pain in the neck.
- Filling out all these tax forms every year is a total pain in the neck.
- While he appreciated the opportunity to lead the project, the constant administrative paperwork proved to be an absolute pain in the neck.

## Origin

The idiom was first attested in the 1920s. It is generally understood as a euphemism for more anatomically specific frustrations, though the decade of its arrival provides the only recorded historical anchor.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.