Definition
Having sharp pointed parts like thorns; full of difficulties or controversial issues. Characterized by problems that are hard to resolve.
Etymology
From Old English 'thornig', derived from 'thorn' plus the suffix '-y'. The metaphorical sense of 'difficult' or 'problematic' developed in the 16th century, drawing on the painful nature of literal thorns.
Kelly Says
The evolution from physical thorns to metaphorical difficulties is beautifully logical - both cause pain when you encounter them unexpectedly. The phrase 'thorny issue' captures how some problems seem to have sharp edges that hurt no matter how carefully you try to handle them.
Translations
BNবাংলা
কাঁটাযুক্ত
kāṇṭayukta
CACatalà
espinós
/əs.piˈnos/
CSČeština
trnitý
/tr̩ˈɲiːtɪ/
DADansk
tornefuld
/toʁnəfʊl/
DEDeutsch
dornig
/ˈdɔʁnɪç/
ELΕλληνικά
αγκάθι
ankáthi
ESEspañol
espinoso
eh-spee-noh-soh
FISuomi
piikikäs
/piːkikæs/
FRFrançais
épineux
/e.pine/
HIहिन्दी
कांटेदार
kāṇṭedār
HUMagyar
tövises
/tøviʃɛʃ/
IDBahasa Indonesia
berduri
bər-do-ree
ITItaliano
spinoso
spee-noh-zoh
KO한국어
가시가 있는
gasi ga issneun
MSBahasa Melayu
berduri
bər-do-ree
MYမြန်မာ
ချွန်ထက်
hkwang hteht
NLNederlands
doornig
/ˈdoːrnɪx/
NONorsk
tornete
/toʁnəte/
PLPolski
kłujący
/kwaˈjuɕt͡ɕɨ/
PTPortuguês
espinhoso
eh-spee-noh-zoo
RUРусский
колючий
kolyuchiy
SWKiswahili
na miiba
nah mee-bah
TRTürkçe
dikenli
dee-ken-lee
UKУкраїнська
колючий
kolyuchiy
URاردو
کانٹے دار
kāṇṭe dār