where did the phrase thorn in my side come from
The phrase "thorn in the flesh" continues to be used as a metaphor for "a source of continual annoyance or trouble." It is synonymous with the phrase "thorn in the side," which is also of biblical origin, based on the description in Numbers 33: 55. 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."