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}}
-: ''We had a cookstove, beans, and plates; the fly in the ointment was the lack of a can opener.''
+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.hfjfjrjueijdjdj
+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==
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 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
+{{Ecclesiastes}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Fly In The Ointment}}
-[[Category:Proverbs]]
+[[Category:English proverbs]]
-[[Category:English phrases]]
 [[Category:Biblical phrases]]
 [[Category:Ecclesiastes]]