bane of (one's) existence

The source or cause of one's misfortune, unhappiness, frustration, or anxiety, usually used hyperbolically. I swear, this project is the bane of my existence. I've been working on it for months and still haven't made any real progress! Jane has been constantly annoying me all week. She's been the bane of my very existence! Please don't mention Sam to her—they had a really acrimonious breakup and now he's pretty much the bane of her existence.

charmed existence

A life characterized or seemingly protected by marked good fortune or luck, without (or rarely) encountering trouble, danger, or misfortune. Often preceded by the verbs "lead," "live," or "have." Celebrities seem to have a rather charmed existence, with everything handed to them on a silver platter. Other than minor colds, I've never been ill in my life. I guess I've just led a charmed existence. I know you want to shield your kids from pain, but it's not good for them to lead a charmed existence either.

come into existence

To appear or arise; to begin to exist. This company only came into existence through the hard work of my talented staff. The newly captured images are helping scientists to understand how some stars come into existence. Expressionism came into existence in the early 20th century.

have a charmed existence

To lead a life characterized or seemingly protected by marked good fortune or luck, without (or rarely) encountering trouble, danger, or misfortune. Celebrities seem to have a rather charmed existence, with everything handed to them on a silver platter. Lady Mary has a charmed life and knows nothing of the wants of common folk. I know you want to shield your kids from pain, but it's not good for them to have a charmed existence either.

humdrum existence

cliché A life that is monotonous, dull, or lacking variety. The novel tells the story of a middle-aged woman who throws off the shackles of her humdrum existence and travels to Paris to fulfill her dream of being a jazz singer. You're such a talented artist—don't just settle for a humdrum existence as an office-worker! A trip is always a welcome break from my otherwise humdrum existence.

in existence

1. Currently existing. This type of bird won't be in existence for much longer if people keep hunting it for sport. My father is one of the top architects in the world, designing some of the most extravagant and innovative buildings in existence. Those sprawling botanical gardens have got to be one of the most beautiful places in existence.

2. Currently functioning or operating. Man, that is the worst coffee shop in existence—I've almost spat out their lattes before! I'm amazed you made it out alive—that hospital has got to be one of the grimiest in existence. Without an infusion of cash, our business won't be in existence for much longer!

3. Having been created or having taken effect. How long has the review panel been in existence? That law wasn't in existence back when I was a cop. The government has vowed to put several new policies in existence, aimed at helping struggling citizens get by.

lead a charmed existence

To lead a life characterized or seemingly protected by marked good fortune or luck, without (or rarely) encountering trouble, danger, or misfortune. Celebrities seem to lead a rather charmed existence, with everything handed to them on a silver platter. Other than minor colds, I've never been ill in my life. I guess I've just led a charmed existence.

live a charmed existence

To lead a life characterized or seemingly protected by marked good fortune or luck, without (or rarely) encountering trouble, danger, or misfortune. Celebrities seem to live a rather charmed existence, with everything handed to them on a silver platter. Other than minor colds, I've never been ill in my life. I guess I've just lived a charmed existence.

wink out

1. Of a flame or light, to become suddenly extinguished. The flashlight sputtered and winked out, leaving us stuck in the cave with no source of light. I sat dreamily watching each candle wink out in the early hours of the morning.

2. To be abruptly killed, destroyed, or ruined. Typically used in passive constructions and often followed by "of existence." I was there on the ground, watching as innocent men, women, and children were winked out of existence by the enemy gunfire. Entire towns were simply winked out as drought and famine swept through the region.

come into existence

to begin existence; to begin to be. This country came into existence in the early part of the fifteenth century. When did this little town come into existence?

in existence

now existing; currently and actually being. The tiger may not be in existence in a few decades. All the oil in existence will not last the world for another century.

the bane of somebody’s ˈlife/eˈxistence

a person or thing that makes somebody’s life unpleasant or unhappy: That car is always breaking down! It’s the bane of my life. OPPOSITE: a ray of sunshine

wink out

To become quickly extinguished, especially following a weak burst of activity: The candle flickered and winked out. The street lamps winked out one by one.

bane of one's existence, the

The agent of one’s ruin or misery; a thorn in the flesh. The earliest meaning of the noun bane was “murderer” and was so used in Beowulf (ca. a.d. 800). A somewhat later meaning was “poison,” which survives as part of the names of various poisonous plants, such as henbane or wolf’s bane. The current sense, an agent of ruin, dates from the late 1500s. Today it is almost always used hyperbolically, as in “The new secretary loses all my messages; she’s become the bane of my existence.”