Meanings
A reference to Ecclesiastes 10:1 in the Bible (King James Version; spelling modernized): “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doeth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”[1]
How to pronounce "fly in the ointment":
AU
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.
Example Sentences
1
The only fly in the ointment at the wedding was when the groom's ex-girlfriend showed up uninvited.
2
The company's plans for expansion hit a fly in the ointment when they lost their major investor.
3
The vacation was perfect except for the fly in the ointment when the hotel lost our reservation.
4
The concert was going smoothly until a fight broke out among the audience, creating a fly in the ointment.
5
The team was on the verge of victory, but injuries to key players became a fly in the ointment.
