a fly in the ointment

(spoken)

someone or something that spoils a good situation What remains a fly in the ointment is the fact that the UN has not approved the peace plan.

Etymology: from a Bible story which explains that dead flies spoil ointment (medicine spread on the skin)

a fly in the ointment

someone or something that spoils a situation which could have been successful or pleasant The only fly in the ointment was my mother, who insisted on whispering through the first half of the show.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Carlton	KAHRL-tən	English
Terttu	TERT-too	Finnish
Carr	[ka:]
Jouni	YO-oo-nee	Finnish
Gemma	['dʒemə]
Tu	-	Chinese