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Is there a word for people you like but are a pain in the ass? Nothing too vulgar. I am not looking to call someone it, but affectionately think about them "that person is a complete [word]". It's for a friend (of the opposite sex, though I don't necessarily want to signal that here).

  • oh God Debbie, can you stop being a [word]

I was thinking of 'frienemy' but that may be the opposite. I was also thinking of 'difficult' but it's potentially offensive and patronizing.

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  • What's an "EL word"?
    – Laurel
    Nov 15 at 21:14
  • english language @Laurel ?
    – luke
    Nov 15 at 21:14
  • 1
    Can you go through the checklist here and edit in more detail for the rest of your question?
    – Laurel
    Nov 15 at 21:17
  • i can delete if you think it would be better @Laurel ?
    – luke
    Nov 15 at 21:20
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    Yeah, I'm trying to help you with your question here. I still think you need more details about the situation you want to use this in. For example, the words we'd use for a boss that won't let you be lazy are different from the words we'd use to describe a child who's acting like a child.
    – Laurel
    Nov 15 at 21:32

1 Answer 1

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You could say

That person is a complete wind-up.
Oh God Debbie, can you stop being a wind-up?

Cambridge Dictionary has

wind-up
noun
something that is not true that you tell someone in order to make a joke:
You can't be serious - is this a wind-up?

This doesn't really cover the noun description of a person (nor does Merriam-Webster) but
Chambers Dictionary has

wind-up
noun
the taunting or teasing of someone, eg the playing of a practical joke on them.

It is usually a deliberate ploy or joke, but the other party may not realise how annoying their behaviour is, and saying it this way implies they know what they are doing.

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