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
Sandi	-	Croatian, Slovene
HlÍF	-	Ancient Scandinavian, Icelandic
Alway	['ɔ:lwei]
RomÁN	-	Hungarian
Brennan	['brenən]
Lauretta	[lɔ:'retə]