A fly in the ointment
A fly in the ointment is a small problem that spoils something otherwise pleasant or successful; it comes from an image in Ecclesiastes, where dead flies spoil fragrant oil. Today, the phrase usually points to one unwelcome detail rather than a complete disaster.
Where it comes from
The biblical image
The image appears in Ecclesiastes 10:1. It connects spoiled perfume with the damage a little foolishness can do to a person's good reputation.
In Ecclesiastes, the writer describes dead flies making a perfumer's oil smell bad. Something small ruins something valued.
In Ecclesiastes by Traditionally attributed to Solomon
The meaning today
Today, the phrase names a drawback in an otherwise good situation, such as a lovely outing spoiled by one unpleasant incident. The problem is small compared with the whole, but hard to ignore.
In Emma, the Box Hill outing turns painful when Emma makes an unkind joke at Miss Bates's expense. That moment illustrates how one incident can spoil a pleasant gathering.
In Emma by Jane Austen
How to use A fly in the ointment
- Describe the good situation first.
- Name the one drawback that spoils it.
- Keep the phrase for a limited problem, not a complete disaster.
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Does it mean the whole thing is ruined?
Not necessarily: it usually means one drawback reduces the pleasure or value of something good. A holiday might still be enjoyable despite an awkward journey, for example. The phrase draws attention to the flaw without always dismissing the whole experience.
Does this phrase come from Shakespeare?
No, its source is the biblical book Ecclesiastes, not Shakespeare. Chapter 10 uses dead flies spoiling fragrant oil as an image of small foolishness damaging wisdom and honour. The familiar modern phrase turns that image into a single troublesome fly.
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