bugbear
noun
[ ˈbʌɡbɛː ]
• a cause of obsessive fear, anxiety, or irritation.
• "the biggest villain is that adman's bugbear, saturated fat"
Similar:
pet hate,
hate,
bane,
irritant,
irritation,
dislike,
anathema,
aversion,
vexation,
thorn in one's flesh/side,
bane of one's life,
torment,
nightmare,
horror,
dread,
curse,
bugaboo,
bogey,
bête noire,
peeve,
pet peeve,
pain,
pain in the neck,
hang-up,
• an imaginary being invoked to frighten children, typically a sort of hobgoblin supposed to devour them.
Origin:
late 16th century: probably from obsolete bug ‘bogey’ (of unknown origin) + bear2.
