Idioms for Pain provide vivid ways to describe discomfort, struggle, or emotional suffering beyond simple words like “hurt” or “sore.” Often, people find it difficult to express the intensity or nuance of their pain, leaving conversations flat or repetitive.
Idioms add color, emotion, and depth, making it easier to communicate both physical and emotional experiences. In this article, you’ll explore idioms for pain that help your language feel more expressive, relatable, and impactful.
Best Idioms for Pain
1. A Pain in the Neck
Meaning: Something or someone annoying or causing discomfort.
In a Sentence:
This paperwork is a real pain in the neck.
He’s been a pain in the neck with his constant complaints.
Other Ways to Say: Annoying, Irritating, Bothersome
2. Hurt Like Hell
Meaning: To experience intense or excruciating pain.
In a Sentence:
The injury hurt like hell when he moved his arm.
Her headache hurt like hell after the long day.
Other Ways to Say: Excruciating, Agonizing, Intense pain
3. Sting Like a Bee
Meaning: To cause sharp, sudden pain, often physical or emotional.
In a Sentence:
Her words stung like a bee, cutting deeply.
The antiseptic stung like a bee on the wound.
Other Ways to Say: Sharp pain, Bite, Hurt sharply
4. A Thorn in Your Side
Meaning: A persistent source of irritation or pain.
In a Sentence:
That coworker is a thorn in her side, always causing trouble.
The issue was a thorn in his side for months.
Other Ways to Say: Constant irritation, Ongoing problem, Nuisance
5. Rub Salt in the Wound
Meaning: To worsen someone’s pain or distress, often emotionally.
In a Sentence:
His comments rubbed salt in the wound after her loss.
Bringing up the failure rubbed salt in his wound.
Other Ways to Say: Make worse, Aggravate, Deepen the pain
6. Cut to the Quick
Meaning: To deeply hurt someone emotionally or psychologically.
In a Sentence:
Her harsh words cut him to the quick.
The criticism cut to the quick, leaving her in pain.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply hurt, Wound emotionally, Sting deeply
7. A Knife in the Back
Meaning: A betrayal that causes emotional pain or shock.
In a Sentence:
His betrayal felt like a knife in the back.
She was stunned by the knife in the back from her friend.
Other Ways to Say: Betrayal, Stabbed in the back, Hurtful act
8. Twist the Knife
Meaning: To intensify someone’s pain, often by adding insult to injury.
In a Sentence:
He twisted the knife by mocking her failure.
Her comments twisted the knife after his rejection.
Other Ways to Say: Worsen the pain, Add insult to injury, Deepen the hurt
9. Hit Where It Hurts
Meaning: To target someone’s most vulnerable or painful point.
In a Sentence:
Her words hit where it hurts, targeting his insecurities.
The decision hit where it hurts, affecting their finances.
Other Ways to Say: Strike a nerve, Hurt deeply, Target weakness
10. A Sore Spot
Meaning: A sensitive or painful issue or memory.
In a Sentence:
Talking about her past is a sore spot for her.
His failure in the project is a sore spot he avoids.
Other Ways to Say: Sensitive issue, Painful topic, Touchy subject
11. Feel the Pinch
Meaning: To experience financial or emotional pain due to hardship.
In a Sentence:
They felt the pinch after the budget cuts.
She’s feeling the pinch of her recent breakup.
Other Ways to Say: Feel the pain, Struggle, Face hardship
12. Kick in the Teeth
Meaning: A painful setback or unexpected disappointment.
In a Sentence:
Losing the deal was a kick in the teeth for him.
Her rejection felt like a kick in the teeth.
Other Ways to Say: Painful blow, Setback, Harsh disappointment
13. Pour Oil on Troubled Waters
Meaning: To calm a painful or tense situation (opposite of causing pain).
In a Sentence:
She poured oil on troubled waters to ease the pain of the argument.
He tried to pour oil on troubled waters after the conflict.
Other Ways to Say: Soothe, Calm down, Ease tension
14. A Bitter Pill to Swallow
Meaning: A painful or difficult truth to accept.
In a Sentence:
Losing the job was a bitter pill to swallow.
Her apology was a bitter pill to swallow after the fight.
Other Ways to Say: Hard truth, Painful reality, Tough to accept
15. Take It on the Chin
Meaning: To endure pain or hardship bravely without complaint.
In a Sentence:
He took the criticism on the chin without flinching.
She took the loss on the chin, hiding her pain.
Other Ways to Say: Endure bravely, Face the pain, Tough it out
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Boring to Escape the Dull Moments
16. Burn Like Fire
Meaning: To experience intense, searing pain.
In a Sentence:
The injury burned like fire when touched.
Her heart burned like fire after the betrayal.
Other Ways to Say: Scorching pain, Intense hurt, Searing agony
17. A Stab of Pain
Meaning: A sudden, sharp feeling of pain, physical or emotional.
In a Sentence:
A stab of pain shot through her leg after the fall.
He felt a stab of pain at the mention of her name.
Other Ways to Say: Sharp pain, Sudden hurt, Piercing agony
18. Woe’s Me
Meaning: An expression of distress or emotional pain.
In a Sentence:
Woe’s me, she cried, overwhelmed by her pain.
He muttered woe’s me after the painful loss.
Other Ways to Say: Poor me, I’m suffering, Feeling the pain
19. Hurt Like the Dickens
Meaning: To experience severe pain (informal).
In a Sentence:
That sprain hurt like the dickens for days.
Her words hurt like the dickens, cutting deeply.
Other Ways to Say: Hurt badly, Painful as hell, Intense pain
20. A Punch to the Gut
Meaning: A sudden, painful emotional or physical blow.
In a Sentence:
The news was a punch to the gut for the team.
Her rejection felt like a punch to the gut.
Other Ways to Say: Emotional blow, Painful shock, Gut-wrenching
21. Raw Nerve
Meaning: A sensitive or painful topic or emotion.
In a Sentence:
Mentioning his failure touched a raw nerve.
Her past is a raw nerve she avoids discussing.
Other Ways to Say: Sore spot, Sensitive issue, Painful subject
22. Agony of Defeat
Meaning: The intense emotional pain of losing or failing.
In a Sentence:
The agony of defeat was clear on the team’s faces.
She felt the agony of defeat after missing the goal.
Other Ways to Say: Pain of loss, Heartache of failure, Bitter defeat
23. Heart-Wrenching
Meaning: Causing intense emotional pain or distress.
In a Sentence:
The story was heart-wrenching, bringing tears to her eyes.
His loss was heart-wrenching for the whole family.
Other Ways to Say: Gut-wrenching, Painful, Emotionally crushing
24. Take a Beating
Meaning: To endure significant pain or hardship, often physical or emotional.
In a Sentence:
His pride took a beating after the public failure.
She took a beating from the harsh criticism.
Other Ways to Say: Endure pain, Suffer a blow, Get hit hard
25. Cry Out in Pain
Meaning: To express pain vocally, often due to intense suffering.
In a Sentence:
He cried out in pain when he twisted his ankle.
She cried out in pain at the hurtful words.
Other Ways to Say: Scream in agony, Yell in pain, Wince aloud
26. A Heavy Heart
Meaning: Feeling deep emotional pain or sadness.
In a Sentence:
She carried a heavy heart after the loss.
He spoke with a heavy heart about his pain.
Other Ways to Say: Deep sadness, Emotional pain, Heartache
27. Sting of Rejection
Meaning: The sharp emotional pain caused by being rejected.
In a Sentence:
The sting of rejection lingered after the breakup.
He felt the sting of rejection from the job denial.
Other Ways to Say: Pain of rejection, Emotional hurt, Sharp disappointment
28. Go Through the Wringer
Meaning: To experience intense emotional or physical pain or stress.
In a Sentence:
She went through the wringer during the divorce.
He was put through the wringer by the tough project.
Other Ways to Say: Endure hardship, Suffer greatly, Face intense pain
29. Feel the Burn
Meaning: To experience intense physical or emotional pain, often from effort.
In a Sentence:
Her muscles felt the burn after the workout.
He felt the burn of betrayal from his friend.
Other Ways to Say: Intense pain, Searing hurt, Agonizing effort
30. A Wound That Won’t Heal
Meaning: A persistent emotional or psychological pain that lingers.
In a Sentence:
Her grief was a wound that won’t heal.
His betrayal left a wound that won’t heal for years.
Other Ways to Say: Lasting pain, Lingering hurt, Unhealed sorrow
31. Pain and Suffering
Meaning: Intense physical or emotional distress, often used formally.
In a Sentence:
The accident caused him great pain and suffering.
She endured pain and suffering after the loss.
Other Ways to Say: Agony, Distress, Torment
32. Smart Like a Whip
Meaning: To feel sharp, stinging pain, often sudden (also refers to intelligence).
In a Sentence:
The cut smarted like a whip on his skin.
Her words smarted like a whip, causing pain.
Other Ways to Say: Sting sharply, Hurt intensely, Bite like a lash
33. Break Your Heart
Meaning: To cause deep emotional pain or sadness.
In a Sentence:
The news broke her heart, leaving her in pain.
His departure broke his family’s hearts.
Other Ways to Say: Crush emotionally, Hurt deeply, Cause heartache
34. Take It to Heart
Meaning: To feel deep emotional pain from criticism or events.
In a Sentence:
She took his words to heart, feeling the pain.
He took the failure to heart, hurting deeply.
Other Ways to Say: Feel deeply, Hurt emotionally, Take personally
35. A Kick in the Pants
Meaning: A painful or motivating setback or criticism.
In a Sentence:
The rejection was a kick in the pants for him.
She needed a kick in the pants to face her pain.
Other Ways to Say: Painful nudge, Harsh wake-up, Tough lesson
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Hungry: Talk About Food Like a Pro
36. In the Throes of Pain
Meaning: Experiencing intense or overwhelming pain.
In a Sentence:
He was in the throes of pain after the injury.
She was in the throes of pain from her grief.
Other Ways to Say: Deep in agony, Overwhelmed by pain, Suffering intensely
37. A Sting in the Tail
Meaning: An unexpected or painful conclusion to a situation.
In a Sentence:
The deal had a sting in the tail with hidden costs.
Her kind words had a sting in the tail, hurting him.
Other Ways to Say: Painful twist, Unexpected hurt, Nasty surprise
38. Bear the Brunt
Meaning: To endure the worst part of pain or hardship.
In a Sentence:
She bore the brunt of the family’s emotional pain.
He bore the brunt of the project’s failure.
Other Ways to Say: Take the worst, Endure the pain, Face the hardship
39. A Painful Lesson
Meaning: A difficult or hurtful experience that teaches something.
In a Sentence:
The mistake was a painful lesson for her career.
He learned a painful lesson after the betrayal.
Other Ways to Say: Hard lesson, Tough experience, Costly mistake
40. Gut-Wrenching
Meaning: Causing intense emotional or physical pain.
In a Sentence:
The news was gut-wrenching for the entire team.
Her decision was gut-wrenching, filled with pain.
Other Ways to Say: Heart-wrenching, Painful, Emotionally crushing
41. Cry Your Eyes Out
Meaning: To cry intensely due to emotional pain.
In a Sentence:
She cried her eyes out after the painful breakup.
He cried his eyes out, overwhelmed by the pain.
Other Ways to Say: Sob uncontrollably, Weep heavily, Shed tears
42. A Blow to the Heart
Meaning: A deeply painful emotional or psychological setback.
In a Sentence:
His words were a blow to the heart for her.
The loss was a blow to the heart for the family.
Other Ways to Say: Emotional hit, Painful blow, Heartache
43. Feel Like Death Warmed Over
Meaning: To feel extremely unwell or in pain, often physically.
In a Sentence:
She felt like death warmed over after the flu.
He looked like death warmed over, in pain from the injury.
Other Ways to Say: Feel awful, In agony, Sickly pained
44. Take a Hit
Meaning: To experience a painful setback or loss.
In a Sentence:
Her confidence took a hit after the failure.
He took a hit emotionally from the rejection.
Other Ways to Say: Suffer a blow, Endure pain, Face a setback
45. A Slap in the Face
Meaning: A sudden and painful insult or rejection.
In a Sentence:
His comment was a slap in the face to her efforts.
The decision felt like a slap in the face to the team.
Other Ways to Say: Painful insult, Harsh rejection, Stinging rebuke
46. Sore as Hell
Meaning: Experiencing intense physical or emotional pain.
In a Sentence:
Her muscles were sore as hell after the workout.
His heart was sore as hell after the betrayal.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely painful, Hurting badly, In agony
47. Pain in the Rear
Meaning: Something or someone causing irritation or discomfort (informal).
In a Sentence:
This task is a real pain in the rear to complete.
He’s been a pain in the rear with his complaints.
Other Ways to Say: Pain in the neck, Annoying, Bothersome
48. Wince in Pain
Meaning: To flinch or react visibly to physical or emotional pain.
In a Sentence:
She winced in pain when she touched the bruise.
He winced in pain at the harsh criticism.
Other Ways to Say: Flinch, Cringe, React to pain
49. A Cross to Bear
Meaning: A painful burden or responsibility one must endure.
In a Sentence:
Her illness was a cross to bear for the family.
He carried his guilt like a cross to bear.
Other Ways to Say: Heavy burden, Painful duty, Ongoing struggle
50. Tear Your Heart Out
Meaning: To cause intense emotional pain or distress.
In a Sentence:
The tragedy tore her heart out, leaving her in pain.
His loss tore his heart out, overwhelming him.
Other Ways to Say: Break your heart, Cause deep pain, Crush emotionally
Conclusion
Pain can be difficult to describe, but words don’t have to fall flat. Idioms for pain let you express physical or emotional discomfort with depth, nuance, and clarity. Incorporate these expressions into your conversations to communicate more vividly and connect with others on a deeper level.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
