Dar por saco

to be a pain; **to be a pain**; **to get on someone's nerves**; **to annoy someone**; **to be a pain in the neck**; **to bug someone**

Dar por saco means to annoy someone, to be a pain, to bother someone, to get on someone's nerves, or to hassle someone.

Depending on the tone, it can range from mildly irritating to quite vulgar.

• keeps bothering another person
• behaves in an irritating way
• repeatedly interrupts
• becomes tiresome
• causes frustration

As with much popular language, its strength comes from an intuitive picture rather than a documented event.

Most linguists believe the expression developed as a euphemistic alteration of an older vulgar phrase referring to anal intercourse.

Replacing the original wording with saco softened the expression while preserving its emphatic force.

Today, many speakers use the idiom without thinking about its historical origin.

Although very common, dar por saco is considered informal and mildly vulgar.

Among friends or family it is often used jokingly.

In professional or formal situations, however, speakers usually prefer milder alternatives such as molestar or fastidiar.

Spanish has many informal expressions meaning "to annoy":

• Dar por saco → to be a pain.
• Dar la lata → to pester someone.
• Dar la tabarra → to nag or hassle someone.
• Dar la murga → to keep bothering someone.
• Tocar las narices → to get on someone's nerves.

Among them, dar por saco is one of the strongest and most widespread. It is heard constantly in everyday speech, but because of its mildly vulgar flavour, it is best avoided in formal situations.

Do not translate the expression literally.

English speakers would never say:

He gives through the sack.

Instead, use expressions such as:

• He's a pain.
• He's getting on my nerves.
• She's annoying me.
• Stop bugging me.

Choose the translation according to the degree of irritation and the level of formality.