To Make Someone’s life Miserable or Give them a Hard Time

Spanish phrases

Acosar – to hassle or harass
Atormentar a alguien – to torture someone mentally or make their life miserable
Buscarle las pulgas a alguien – to provoke or irritate someone
Dar guerra a alguien – to make someone’s life difficult
Dar lata – to give someone a hard time
Dar picones –   to antagonize or excite someone
¡Déjeme en paz! – Leave me alone!
Hacer pasar un mal rato a alguien – to give someone a bad time
Hacerle la vida imposible a alguien  – to make someone’s life miserable
Hinchar las pelotas or huevos a alguien  – to be a pain in the balls (very vulgar)
Hostigar – to hassle, harass, bug or bother someone
Irrritar a alguien – to irritate someone
Joder – to bother or screw with someone (vulgar)
Joderle la vida a alguien – same as the last one (vulgar)
Jorobar – is a euphemism for Joder (more vulgar and offensive)
Molestar a alguien – to bother someone
No dejar ni a sol ni a sombra – to bother someone at all hours and not leave them alone
¡No jodas! – Leave me alone (vulgar)
Pisale los calllos a alguien – to step on someone’s callouses or bother them
Putear – to annoy or harass (very vulgar). Ese hombre siempre me putea. That guy is always screwing with me. NOTE: Putear is also used for a woman who sells her body or a guy who goes after prostitutes.
Sacar de casillas – to drive someone nuts or bend them out of shape
Sacar de quicio – same as the last one
Ser la peor pesadilla de alguien – to be someone’s worse nightmare
Ser majadero – to be a pain in the butt
Ser un dolor de cabeza para alguien – to be a headache for someone
Ser un dolor de trasero para alguien – to be a pain in the butt
Tener a alguien frito – to bother someone
Tener a alguien hasta el copete – to bother someone
Tener loco a alguien – to drive someone crazy
Tener con la peluca parada – to have someone crazy

Tiquismos of the week:

  • Caer en la pura picha  – This is in the pachuco dialect and means to be a pain in the neck for someone or not like somebody (very, very vulgar and offensive). José me cae en la pura picha.
  • Caer como patada de mula en la panza – a less offensive way of saying the same thing
  • Caer como una bomba – same as the last one