Irritation: English Vocabulary List

to do something that annoys or irritates someone

"He knows exactly how to push my buttons."

"My little brother knows exactly how to push my buttons and make me angry."

left with no energy or patience to deal with something

"I am at my end's rope."

"After dealing with the constant problems, the teacher was at the end of her rope."

to no longer have the tolerance to endure more of something

"I have had enough of this nonsense."

"I have had enough of your excuses so please stop lying and tell me the truth."

very annoyed with a situation that has gone on for an extended period of time

"I am sick to the back teeth."

"She was fed up to the back teeth with her neighbors who played loud music every single night until three in the morning."

used to describe someone who is very unpleasant or bad-tempered

"Her face was sour as vinegar."

"The old man next door is as sour as vinegar and never smiles or says hello to anyone on the street."

to persistently annoy someone by doing something or by simply being around them

"My little brother always gets in my hair."

"My little brother always gets in my hair when I am trying to study for important exams."

to annoy someone by behaving in a very aggressive or direct manner

"Stop getting in my face!"

"He has a habit of getting in people's face when he disagrees with them."

to annoy someone so much that they run out of patience

"It gets up my nose."

"His constant whistling really gets up my nose when I'm trying to concentrate."

to constantly annoy someone and ruin their concentration

"It drove me to distraction."

"The incessant dripping of the faucet threatened to drive her to distraction."

to force someone do something that is against their will or by putting a lot of pressure on them

"She is on my back."

"My parents are always on my back about finding a more stable job."

to closely watch someone and everything they do, particularly in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable

"Stop breathing down my neck."

"My boss is constantly breathing down my neck, making it difficult to concentrate on my work."

closely following or pursuing someone or something, often in a persistent or bothersome manner

"He is on my heels."

"The determined detective was hot on the suspect's heels, determined to catch him before he escaped."

to become suddenly very angry, often to the point of shouting or behaving in an aggressive manner

"He lost his cool then."

"The normally calm teacher lost her cool when the student refused to follow instructions."

in a state where a person is so confused or frustrated that they are unable to decide what to do anymore

"I am at my wit's end."

"After trying every possible solution, the mechanic was at his wit's end with the car's persistent problem."

to suddenly become very angry so that one completely loses control over one's thoughts and actions

"He lost his shit."

"When the train was delayed for the third time, the impatient passenger completely lost his shit."

a thoroughly mean, despicable, or disagreeable person

"That son of a bitch!"

"He was known throughout the town as a real son of a bitch who always looked out for himself."

used to refer to a person one is very annoyed with or hates

"He is a son of a gun."

"That son of a gun stole my parking spot again!"

closely following or pursuing someone or something, often in a persistent or bothersome manner

"He is on one's heels."

"The detective was hot on one's heels, determined to catch the fleeing suspect before dawn."