pet peeve

[ pet peev ]

noun

1. a particular and often continual annoyance; personal bugbear:

   This train service is one of my pet peeves.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pet peeve¹

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20

Idioms and Phrases

A particular or recurring source of irritation, as in My pet peeve is that neighbor's cat running through my herb garden . [Early 1900s]

Example Sentences

Here’s What to Do, According to Experts; Roy Lichtenstein’s “I can’t believe it I forgot to have children!”; and Jorge L. Ortiz for USA Today: A big pet peeve: Soaring costs of vet care bite into owners’ budgets.

From Slate

We know every secret, private joke and pet peeve about each other , based on memories woven so deeply into the L.A. backdrop, they can’t be undone.

From Los Angeles Times

We know every secret, private joke and pet peeve about each other , based on memories woven so deeply into the L.A. backdrop, they can’t be undone.

From Los Angeles Times

The wrappers are a nostalgic choice for Barrois, who started sculpting as an antsy 10-year-old with a Hot Wheels collection and a pet peeve.

From New York Times

On the topic of phones came one pet peeve.

From Seattle Times