fly in the ointment

Definitions

Something (especially a minor thing) which ruins or spoils everything else, or makes it less pleasant; a nuisance or problem; a disagreeable or unpleasant detail.

idiomatic

Equivalents

9 more languages

Bosanskidlaka u jajetuosošдлака у јајету+ 1 more

Suomikanto kaskessariesa

Hrvatskidlaka u jajetuosošдлака у јајету+ 1 more

Kurdîhîç

Nederlandshaar in de boter

Polskiłyżka dziegciułyżka dziegciu w beczce miodu

Portuguêsjato de água fria

Српскиdlaka u jajetuošosдлака у јајету+ 1 more

Svenskamalört i glädjebägarensmolk i glädjebägaren

Examples

“And yet, in truth, he was not then a child of God. His pride and uncharitableness, were flies in the ointment.”

“A Poor Relation—is the most irrelevant thing in nature,— […] —a fly⟳ in your ointment,—a mote in your eye,— […] —the ounce of sour in a pound of sweet.”

“Not one moment are we to be indolently reconciled to this ever-haunting imperfection of our life-work; but the work⟳ itself must be patiently surveyed in its true character. Nothing is gained by pretending there are no flies in the ointment.”

“Nothing, of course, in this world is perfect; and, rosy as were the glasses through which Archie looked on his new surroundings, he had to admit⟳ that there was one flaw, one fly⟳ in the ointment, one individual caterpillar in the salad.”

“Our gods are the unaccountable, uncontainable facts, the flies in the ointment.”

“Bummy Davis is no longer a pugilist. Willie is very aware of this fact and lets Johnny Attell know⟳ that there is a fly⟳ in the ointment, and Johnny, who is a very shrewd article, has his chauffeur drive⟳ him to Bradford Street so he can change⟳ the kid's mind⟳.”

“The flies in the ointment are that Harry is a commitment-phobe, and the young doctor, Julian (Keanu Reeves), who is half Erica's age, is smitten with her. Naturally, the obstacles are overcome⟳, and the happy pair is reunited, in a validation of middle-aged romance.”

“Today's action is a reminder of just how fickle markets can be. The earnings themselves were not awful, but the market has priced tech to near perfection and thus one fly⟳ – maybe even a fruit fly⟳ – in the ointment could perpetuate a sell-off.”

“But Patel said there was a “fly⟳ in the ointment”, noting that between the first results and the new data, uncertainty has increased around the theoretical prediction of the frequency.”

“But there is one fly⟳ in the ointment, which is only too evident at Queen Street and Central... buddleia.”

CEFR level