Fly in the ointment: Difference between revisions

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In English, the phrase fly in the ointment is an idiomatic expression for a drawback, especially one that was not at first apparent, for example: "We had a cookstove, beans, and plates; the fly in the ointment was the lack of a can opener."

The likely source is a phrase in the biblical book of Ecclesiastes:

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour. (Ecclesiastes 10:1)

For four centuries, a fly in the ointment has meant a small defect that spoils something valuable or is a source of annoyance. The modern version thus suggests that something unpleasant may come or has come to light in a proposition or condition that is almost too pleasing; that there is something wrong hidden, unexpected somewhere.

Example: "Our hospital is such an oasis of kindness and efficiency, but our orthopedic department is like a fly in the ointment."

Sources

The Fly in the Ointment: 70 Fascinating Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Life by Joseph A. Schwarcz, Ecw Press, May 28, 2004.
2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions from White Elephants to a Song and Dance by Charles Earle Funk (Galahad Book, New York, 1993
Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).

References

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+{{Short description|English-language idiomatic expression}}
-{{Other uses|Fly in the Ointment (disambiguation){{!}}Fly in the Ointment}}
+{{Wiktionary}}
-In [[English language|English]], the phrase '''fly in the ointment''' is an [[idiom]]atic expression for a drawback, especially one that was not at first apparent, e.g.
+{{Distinguish|Flying ointment}}{{Other uses|Fly in the Ointment (disambiguation){{!}}Fly in the Ointment}}
-: ''The job candidate had all the skills required for success in the position. We learned, however, during the interview process that she was not willing to relocate to our home office's city.''
+In English, the phrase '''fly in the ointment''' is an [[idiom]]atic expression for a drawback, especially one that was not at first apparent, for example: "We had a cookstove, beans, and plates; the fly in the ointment was the lack of a can opener."
-The likely source is a phrase in the ''[[King James Bible]]'':<ref>[http://www.gracecathedral.org/enrichment/brush_excerpts/brush_20051220.shtml "A Fly in the Ointment"], commentary at website of [[Grace Cathedral, San Francisco]]</ref>
+The likely source is a phrase in the [[Ecclesiastes| biblical book of Ecclesiastes]]:
 :Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour. ([[Ecclesiastes]] {{bibleverse-nb||Eccl|10:1|KJV}})
-For five centuries, 'a fly in the ointment' has meant a small defect that spoils something valuable or is a source of annoyance. The modern version thus suggests that something unpleasant may come or has come to light in a proposition or condition that is almost too pleasing; that there is something wrong hidden, unexpected somewhere.
+For four centuries, ''a fly in the ointment'' has meant a small defect that spoils something valuable or is a source of annoyance. The modern version thus suggests that something unpleasant may come or has come to light in a proposition or condition that is almost too pleasing; that there is something wrong hidden, unexpected somewhere.
+Example: "Our hospital is such an oasis of kindness and efficiency, but our orthopedic department is like a fly in the ointment."
-This idiom has been used in the title of some books: ''The Fly in the Ointment: 70 Fascinating Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Life'' by [[Joseph A. Schwarcz]] and ''The Fly in the Ointment'' by [[Alice Thomas Ellis]].
 ==Sources==
 * ''The Fly in the Ointment: 70 Fascinating Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Life'' by [[Joseph A. Schwarcz]], Ecw Press, May 28, 2004.
-* ''2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions from White Elephants to a Song and Dance'' by Charles Earle Funk (Galahad Book, New York, 1993
+* ''2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions from White Elephants to a Song and Dance'' by [[Charles Earle Funk]] (Galahad Book, New York, 1993
 * ''Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins'' by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
+{{Ecclesiastes}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Fly In The Ointment}}
-[[Category:Proverbs]]
+[[Category:English proverbs]]
-[[Category:English phrases]]
 [[Category:Biblical phrases]]
 [[Category:Ecclesiastes]]
-ps. balls