Everyone gets annoyed from time to time—whether it’s because of noisy neighbors, rude coworkers, or little everyday frustrations.
These idiomatic expressions add personality and emotion to language, helping speakers convey exactly how bothered or fed up they feel.
25 Idioms for Annoyed
1. Fed up (with)
Meaning: Annoyed or tired of dealing with something repeatedly
Usage Word: fed up with
I’m fed up with all these software glitches.
She’s fed up with her roommate leaving dishes in the sink.
2. On someone’s nerves
Meaning: To irritate or annoy someone
Usage Word: gets / is on my nerves
That tapping noise gets on my nerves.
His constant complaining is on my nerves lately.
3. A pain in the neck
Meaning: Someone or something very annoying
Usage Word: is / was a pain in the neck
This paperwork is a pain in the neck.
My little brother was a pain in the neck during our trip.
4. Rub someone the wrong way
Meaning: To annoy someone unintentionally
Usage Word: rubs / rubbed me the wrong way
His arrogant tone rubs me the wrong way.
I think I rubbed her the wrong way during the meeting.
5. Get under someone’s skin
Meaning: To deeply annoy or irritate someone
Usage Word: gets / got under my skin
That guy’s smug attitude really gets under my skin.
Her passive-aggressive comments got under my skin fast.
6. Drive someone up the wall
Meaning: To make someone extremely annoyed
Usage Word: drives / drove me up the wall
The loud construction next door drives me up the wall.
He drove me up the wall with his constant interruptions.
7. Like nails on a chalkboard
Meaning: Extremely irritating or unpleasant (often sound or behavior)
Usage Word: is / was like nails on a chalkboard
Her fake laugh is like nails on a chalkboard.
His whining was like nails on a chalkboard to me.
8. Have had it (with)
Meaning: To be totally done or annoyed with someone or something
Usage Word: have had it with
I have had it with these daily power cuts.
We had it with their constant excuses.
9. Get in someone’s hair
Meaning: To bother or annoy someone by being in the way
Usage Word: gets / got in my hair
The kids got in my hair while I was working.
He gets in my hair whenever I try to focus.
10. Bust someone’s chops
Meaning: To nag, tease, or criticize someone (can be playful or annoying)
Usage Word: busts / busted my chops
My manager busts my chops about every little mistake.
He busted my chops all morning about my new haircut.
11. At your wit’s end
Meaning: Extremely frustrated or annoyed because you don’t know what to do
Usage Word: at my wit’s end
I’m at my wit’s end trying to fix this laptop.
She was at her wit’s end after her toddler threw another tantrum.
12. Blow off steam
Meaning: To release anger or frustration
Usage Word: blow off steam
I went for a run to blow off steam after that stressful meeting.
He plays video games to blow off steam after work.
13. Chip on your shoulder
Meaning: Easily angered or looking for a reason to be offended
Usage Word: has a chip on his/her shoulder
He has a chip on his shoulder about being passed over for promotion.
Don’t talk to her now—she has a chip on her shoulder today.
14. Get a rise out of someone
Meaning: To deliberately annoy or provoke someone
Usage Word: get a rise out of me
He kept teasing me just to get a rise out of me.
Don’t let them get a rise out of you—just ignore them.
15. In someone’s face
Meaning: Aggressively confronting or annoying someone
Usage Word: in my face
That guy was all in my face yelling about the parking spot.
She got in his face about showing up late again.
16. Poke the bear
Meaning: To provoke someone already angry or irritated
Usage Word: don’t poke the bear
I wouldn’t mention that now—don’t poke the bear.
You are really poking the bear by bringing that up again.
17. Throw a fit
Meaning: To have a sudden angry outburst
Usage Word: threw a fit
She threw a fit when they messed up her coffee order.
The customer threw a fit over the price increase.
18. Touchy subject
Meaning: A topic that easily annoys or upsets someone
Usage Word: that’s a touchy subject
Don’t ask about his ex—it’s a touchy subject.
Politics is a touchy subject at our family dinners.
19. Fly off the handle
Meaning: To suddenly become very angry
Usage Word: flies / flew off the handle
She flew off the handle when she saw the mess.
He flies off the handle over the smallest things.
20. Have it up to here
Meaning: To be extremely annoyed and about to lose patience
Usage Word: have had it up to here
I’ve had it up to here with your excuses!
We’ve had it up to here with the delays.
21. Grind someone’s gears
Meaning: To seriously annoy someone
Usage Word: grinds my gears
It really grinds my gears when people chew loudly.
Lateness just grinds my gears—be on time!
22. In a mood
Meaning: Irritated, grumpy, or annoyed (without a clear reason)
Usage Word: in a mood
Don’t talk to her—she’s in a mood today.
He’s in a mood, so steer clear for now.
23. Throw someone off
Meaning: To annoy or confuse someone unexpectedly
Usage Word: threw me off
His rude tone really threw me off.
That sudden interruption threw me off during my speech.
24. Tear into someone
Meaning: To scold or criticize someone angrily
Usage Word: tore into me
My boss tore into me for missing the deadline.
He tore into his son for not studying.
25. Snap at someone
Meaning: To speak sharply or angrily
Usage Word: snapped at me
She snapped at me just for asking a simple question.
I didn’t mean to snap at you, I’m just tired.
