nagel i ögat

Swedish

Etymology

Compound of nagel (“prick”) +‎ i (“in”) +‎ ögat (“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 the relative unfamiliarity with the arachic meaning of nagel (“prick”), which today often refers to a finger nail.

Noun

nagel i ögat c

1. (idiomatic) A source of irritation, chagrin, vexation or annoyance.

   Synonym: vagel i ögat

References

• From The Question Box at the Swedish Institute for Language and Folklore