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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

pain in the arse en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈpeɪn ɪn ði ˌɑːs/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Southern-England) audio

Meanings

  1. (Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, qualifier:sometimes considered vulgar) Someone or something that is annoying or frustrating.
    • You really are a pain in the arse, aren't you (laugh track)? The PM is going up the wall! Hitting the roof! You can't go around making speeches like that. 1980 February 25, Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, “Open Government”, in Yes Minister, season 1, episode 1, spoken by Vic Gould (Edward Jewesbury):

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pains in the arse Number=Plur lexicographic
pain in the ass alternative lexicographic

Relateds

pain in the neck · pain · proctalgia · pain in the butt · pain in the bum

Synonyms

drag (someone or something)