Pain in the Arse

Ret's Word of the Day: Pain in the Arse
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Pain in the Arse

/peɪn ɪn ði ɑːs/ (UK) | /peɪn ɪn ði æs/ (US)

(Pronounced: payn in thuh ahrs (UK) | payn in thuh as (US))
UK pronunciation   US pronunciation

Meaning: Someone or something that is very annoying, irritating, or troublesome — a nuisance or source of frustration. (Vulgar slang; US variant: "pain in the ass". Milder alternatives: "pain in the neck", "pain in the butt" or "pain in the bum".)

Dialogue

  • Sarah: "Why is the printer not working again?"
  • Mike: "I don't know, but fixing it every day is such a hassle."
  • Sarah: "Yeah, this old machine is a real pain in the arse."
  • Mike: "Totally — we need a new one!"

Etymology

The idiom "pain in the arse" (British English) or "pain in the ass" (American English) is a vulgar intensification of the earlier, milder "pain in the neck," which dates to the early 20th century. It emerged as dysphemistic slang around the mid-20th century, referring literally to discomfort in the buttocks but figuratively to something or someone causing persistent annoyance.

Audience

When to use: Common in informal, casual British English (and equivalents in other varieties) to describe annoying people, tasks, situations, or things. It's vulgar and potentially offensive, so avoid in formal or polite contexts—use "pain in the neck" instead. It's "arse" in the UK/Ireland/Australia/South Africa, and "ass" in the US and in Canada.

Video

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