where did the phrase thorn in my side come from
Thorn in the flesh The phrase "thorn in the flesh" continues to be used as a metaphor for "a source of continual annoyance or trouble."[14] It is synonymous with the phrase "thorn in the side," which is also of biblical origin, based on the description in Numbers 33:55.[14] As an example usage, the Oxford English Dictionary cites E. M. Forster's 1924 novel A Passage to India, in which Nawab Bahadur says, "I can be a thorn in Mr. Turton's flesh, and if he asks me I accept the invitation."[15]