Fly in the ointment: Difference between revisions
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{{Distinguish|Flying ointment}}{{Other uses|Fly in the Ointment (disambiguation){{!}}Fly in the Ointment}} |
{{Distinguish|Flying ointment}}{{Other uses|Fly in the Ointment (disambiguation){{!}}Fly in the Ointment}} |
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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, |
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, for example: "We had a cookstove, beans, and plates; the fly in the ointment was the lack of a can opener." |
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: ''We had a cookstove, beans, and plates; the fly in the ointment was the lack of a can opener.'' |
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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"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208053443/http://www.gracecathedral.org/enrichment/brush_excerpts/brush_20051220.shtml |
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"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208053443/http://www.gracecathedral.org/enrichment/brush_excerpts/brush_20051220.shtml|date=2006-12-08}}, commentary at website of [[Grace Cathedral, San Francisco]]</ref> |
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:Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour. ([[Ecclesiastes]] {{bibleverse-nb||Eccl|10:1|KJV}}) |
:Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour. ([[Ecclesiastes]] {{bibleverse-nb||Eccl|10:1|KJV}}) |
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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. |
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. |
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==Sources== |
==Sources== |
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Revision as of 20:38, 29 October 2020
Look up fly in the ointment in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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 King James Bible:[1]
- 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.
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
- ^ "A Fly in the Ointment" Archived 2006-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, commentary at website of Grace Cathedral, San Francisco