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worm in the apple

Noun CEFR C2

Definitions

A serious flaw in something otherwise good; a problem that ruins everything else.

Examples

The worms in the apple, of course, are Baby Boom liberals who latched on to the one institution they could controlthe university.”
“In this witty satire Cheever, acting as both narrator and observer, seeks to find the Crutchman's fatal flaw, theworm in the applethat will bring them down to the level of everyone else.”
The villain of this piecethe worm in the apple of Revolutionary antislaverywas white racism.”

CEFR level

C2
Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.
See all C2 English words →

See also

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