Ret's Weekend English Roundup ✦ Week 39, 2026

View this lesson in your browser WEEK 39 • 2026 A five-minute English lesson for your weekend THIS WEEK'S EXPRESSION pain point noun  |  /ˈpeɪn pɔɪnt/ MEANING A pain point is a specific, recurring problem that causes difficulty or frustration, particularly for a customer or user. En français : un point de friction, une difficulté récurrente ou un problème précis. How is it used? The expression is common in business, marketing and customer service. It can also describe a recurring problem at work or in everyday life. Useful patterns: a pain point for someone • identify a pain point • address or solve a pain point SEE IT IN CONTEXT 1 Slow delivery is a major pain point for our customers.   2 Unexpected fees are a common pain point for travellers.   3 The survey helped us identify the main pain points in the booking process. QUICK CHECK Which sentence uses pain point most naturally? A. The patient identified a pain point near the base of her neck. B. Limited appointment availability is a pain point for many patients. C. The osteopath gently pressed the patient’s pain point. D. The pain point became sharper whenever the patient turned his head. Answer: B. Here, pain point means a persistent problem or source of frustration. It does not normally refer to a specific painful area of the body. YOUR TURN Complete these sentences: A pain point for me at work is ________. A common pain point for learners of English is ________. Finding a _______ near the office is a daily pain point for employees. Reply to this email with your own sentence. I read every reply. Hear “pain point” in real English → Listen to several speakers. Notice the stress on pain. EXPLORE FURTHER WordReference  •   Linguee  •   Cambridge Dictionary Enjoyed this lesson? Share it by email  •  Subscribe Unsubscribe  •  View online © September 2026 Rethabile Masilo • Ret's Word of the Day