Fly in the Ointment

Rate this phrase:0.0 / 0 votes

Fly in the Ointment

A small disturbance or irritation which can spoil ones pleasure and excitement

Etymology:

This phrase finds its origin in Bible (Ecclesiastics 10:1). Many years ago, people believed that a small annoyance can sometimes cause a big trouble and eventually can ruin things. Ointment means a creamy substance which is used to soften or heal up the skin. Any ointment gets ruined when a fly is found in it.

: 5 Views

“

The people were going crazy in the musical concert, but sudden lights off were the fly in the ointment.

Collection Edit

Submitted on February 25, 2019

Additional definitions for 'Fly in the Ointment':

fly in the ointment	Something which ruins or spoils everything else; a nuisance or problem; an unpleasant or disagreeable detail.

fly in the ointment

Something which ruins or spoils everything else; a nuisance or problem; an unpleasant or disagreeable detail.

See them all »

Translation

Find a translation for the Fly in the Ointment phrase in other languages:

Select another language:

Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Fly in the Ointment

fly the coop fly off at a tangent a fly by night fly off the handle fly off the handle fly off don't drive faster than your guardian a…Fly the Coop fly by crane fly bar fly fly out fly on the wall a fly in the ointment

How to pronounce this phrase?

Alex
US English
David
US English
Mark
US English
Daniel
British
Libby
British
Mia
British
Karen
Australian
Hayley
Australian
Natasha
Australian
Veena
Indian
Priya
Indian
Neerja
Indian
Zira
US English
Oliver
British
Wendy
British
Fred
US English
Tessa
South African

Discuss this Fly in the Ointment phrase with the community:

0 Comments

Notify me of new comments via email.

Citation

Use the citation below to add this Fly in the Ointment definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Fly in the Ointment." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 31 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/fly-in-the-ointment_44671>.

Fly in the Ointment

Etymology:

Additional definitions for 'Fly in the Ointment':

Translation

Find a translation for the Fly in the Ointment phrase in other languages:

Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Fly in the Ointment

How to pronounce this phrase?

Discuss this Fly in the Ointment phrase with the community:

0 Comments

Citation

Use the citation below to add this Fly in the Ointment definition to your bibliography:

We need you!

Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

The Web's Largest Resource for

Phrases, Verbs & Idioms

A Member Of The STANDS4 Network

Quiz

Are you a phrases master?

A ______ draw.

Browse Phrases.com