будто бельмо в глазу

• (КАК <БУДТО, СЛОВНО, ТОЧНО>) БЕЛЬМО В (НА) ГЛАЗУ (у кого) coll, disapprov

[(как etc +) NP; subj-compl with быть (subj: human or concr) or adv (var. with как etc only); fixed WO]

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⇒ (a person or thing is) a source of constant irritation to s.o. by his or its presence:

- X (y Y-a) как бельмо на глазу{{}}≈ X is a thorn in Y's side (flesh);

- X is a thorn (a burr) in the side of Y;

- [in limited contexts] X sticks out like a sore thumb;

- thing X is an eyesore;

- thing X is a blot on the landscape.

     ♦ Опора своему брату и заступник всех обиженных... он [Браджеш] был, конечно, бельмом на глазу у раджи (Аллилуева 2). То his brother he [Brajesh] had been a real support, a protector to the wronged. ... As a result, he became a thorn in the side of the Raja (2a).