vagel i ögat

== Swedish == === Etymology === Compound of vagel (“stye”) +‎ i (“in”) +‎ ögat (“the eye”). Originally nagel i ögat (“prick in the eye”) from the Bible quote Numbers 33:55, "But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell." Today's use of the synonymous idiom vagel i ögat (“stye in the eye”) is most likely due to unfamiliarity with the archaic meaning of nagel (“prick”), which today often refers to a finger nail. In 1917's Swedish translation of the Bible nagel (“prick”) has been translated to törnen (“thorns”) and in 2000's translation as taggar (“spines”). === Noun === vagel i ögat c (literally) A stye in the eye. (idiomatic) A source of irritation, chagrin, vexation or annoyance. Synonym: nagel i ögat === References === From The Question Box at the Swedish Institute for Language and Folklore