pebble

/ˈpebəl/

small smooth stone

She picked up a pebble and skipped it across the pond.

A small smooth stone was used to create ripples in the water.

◆ What It Really Means

a minor annoyance or irritation

¶ Literal Meaning

a small stone in one's shoe

Literal Breakdown

pebblesmall stone+shoefootwear

◇ Mental Image

The image of a small stone causing discomfort in one's shoe, representing a persistent but minor problem.

◈ When to Use

Someone might say, 'His constant interruptions are like a pebble in my shoe,' to express mild frustration.

◉ Cultural Note

The phrase reflects the idea that even small, seemingly insignificant things can cause ongoing irritation.

informal

a small, smooth, rounded stone, typically found near water or in riverbeds

Children collected colorful pebbles on the beach.

Young kids gathered variously colored small stones by the shore.

Pebbles are often used in landscaping, crafts, and as decorative elements.

Collocations

pebble beacha beach with small smooth stones instead of sandpebble dasha rough-textured exterior wall finish made with small stones

a minor annoyance or irritation

Pebbles are often used in gardening, aquariums, and decorative designs.

From Middle English 'pebble,' meaning a small stone, from Old English 'pæbl,' related to Old Norse 'pafl.'

The term is commonly used in both literal and metaphorical contexts, such as 'a pebble in one's shoe' to describe a minor annoyance.

peb-

small

root

-ble

stone

suffix

English Dictionary