painful reminder

This page is about the collocation painful reminder

collocation pattern: adjective + noun

Meaning

If something's a painful reminder, it reminds you of something you find upsetting or disturbing.

For example

  • The match must have been a painful reminder of her loss in last year's final.

  • Harry said the movie was a painful reminder of how little he's achieved in his life.

Quick Quiz

For Jenny, the photo was a painful reminder of

a. how happy she is these days

b. how happy she'll be soon

c. how happy she used to be
a) how happy she is these days b) how happy she'll be soon c) how happy she used to be

Contributor: Matt Errey