English-grammar-lessons.co.uk

menu

Thorn in the Flesh

What Does "Thorn in the Flesh" Mean?

homeidiomsThorn in the Flesh
"Thorn in the flesh" is an English idiom. It means "a chronic or enduring source of irritation or trouble."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "thorn in the flesh" used in a sentence:
  • Her allergies were a constant thorn in her flesh.
  • The unresolved conflict with his neighbour had become a thorn in his flesh.
  • The lack of funding was a thorn in the organization's flesh for years.
meaning for thorn in the flesh

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Thorn in the Flesh" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "thorn in the flesh" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
gold cup
Gold

gold cup
Silver

gold cup
Bronze

  • This test has questions.
  • A correct answer is worth 5 points.
  • You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
  • Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
  • Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
  • 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System

Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Help Us To Improve English Grammar Lessons
  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.
Do you know your English idioms? idioms test

Take Our Test.

search icon

Search our idioms database. (We have 10,000+ idioms!)