irritant

The two leaders directed their officials "to move quickly to resolve outstanding trade issues and irritants," according to a readout released by Carney's office after the meeting.

The deal is largely a return to the fragile truce of earlier in the year—with many of the potential irritants in the intensifying relationship still looming.

“The movie is the convergence of those big tragedies that happen to us and those everyday irritants,” Bronstein says during a recent conversation.

The move would revive an old trade irritant between the countries, adding to the recent moves on tariffs and export controls on critical industries that both countries have deployed in recent months.

But even if a sketch doesn’t quite work, you could rest in knowing its discomfort is temporary, with the irritant or foolishness changing every few minutes.