peeve v : cause to be annoyed, irritated, or resentful

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -iːv

Noun

1. An annoyance or grievance.

Translations

Verb

1. To annoy; vex.

   He was peeved to note that his work had been undone.

Translations

See also

• pet peeve

A pet peeve (or pet hate) is a minor annoyance that can instill great frustration in an individual.

Origin

The term originated from the word 'peeve'. Its first usage was in 1919. The term is a back-formation from the 14th-century word 'peevish,' meaning ornery or ill-tempered.

Description

Pet peeves involve complaints about specific behaviors, rather than general dissatisfaction. Pet peeves often involve specific behaviors of someone close, such as a spouse or significant other. Road rage itself is considered a pet peeve by many. Other driving-related pet peeves include drivers who speed up to keep others from changing lanes (Gap Snatchers), or distracted drivers talking on cell phones (Motor Mouths).

Often a pet peeve will seem illogical to others. For example, a supervisor may have a pet peeve about people leaving the lid on the copier up and react angrily, be annoyed when others interrupt when speaking, or by messy desks of their subordinates. That same supervisor may witness employees coming into work late, and not feel any annoyance whatsoever.

References

External links

• Word Detective origins of Pet Peeve
• Take Our Word For It Issue 138
• Online Etymology Dictionary

abhorrence, abomination, aggravate, anathema, annoy, antipathy, arouse, aversion, badger, bait, be at, bedevil, beef, beefing, bellyache, bellyaching, beset, bitch, bitching, bone to pick, bother, bristle, brown off, bug, bullyrag, burn up, chafe, chivy, complaining, complaint, crow to pick, crow to pluck, destructive criticism, detestation, devil, discompose, dissent, distemper, disturb, dog, embitter, exasperate, execration, exercise, fash, faultfinding, fret, get, grievance, gripe, griping, groan, groaning, grouse, grousing, grudge, grumbling, harass, harry, hate, heckle, hector, holler, hound, howl, huff, incense, inflame, irk, irritate, kick, kicking, miff, molest, murmuring, nag, needle, nettle, nudzh, peevishness, persecute, pester, pet peeve, petulance, phobia, pick on, pique, plague, pluck the beard, pother, protest, provoke, put out, querulousness, rankle, ride, rile, roil, ruffle, scolding, set up, sniping, spite, squawk, squawking, stir the blood, stir up, tease, torment, try the patience, tweak the nose, vex, whining, work up, worry, yapping