A Fly In The Ointment: Meaning and Origin Revealed

Written by Dayva Segal
Published: February 10, 2023
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Just think of it. You have a tub of ointment that is meant to heal or moisturize. It looks so soothing. But then, a fly lands in it and gets stuck. Ew! Right? That is basically the meaning of the idiom “a fly in the ointment.” It means something small that can spoil the whole thing, or at least cause an annoyance or make it unpleasant if it doesn’t completely ruin it. Where did this unique phrase come from?

The Origins of the Phrase “A Fly in the Ointment”

This colloquial saying in English actually comes from the King James translation of the Bible. It was originally most likely a reference to Ecclesiastes verse 10:1 which says “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.”

Since the King James Bible was commissioned in the 1600s, it’s possible that this phrase has been around at least since then, if not longer. However, the concept of a fly ruining the ointment didn’t appear outside of the King James Bible until the early 1700s when it appeared in A Practical Treatise on Humility, a book by the author John Norris.

King James Bible

The Phrase “A Fly in the Ointment” comes from comes from the King James translation of the Bible commissioned in the 1600s.

©iStock.com/NathanMerrill

Examples of the Phrase “A Fly in the Ointment” in Everyday Use

You can use this phrase anytime you need to discuss something small that could derail plans or make something unpleasant, whether it is someone you don’t like tagging along on an otherwise fun activity or a coworker disrupting your otherwise smooth sailing project. However, it’s important to note that “the fly” in this phrase is usually something that seems small and innocent, and like it wouldn’t be a big deal, even if it has the potential to cause some trouble.

In some cases, “the fly” can even be something hidden that could possibly be brought to light at a later time. For example, you might create a business contract with a clause to get out of it if any specific unsavory details were discovered at a later time. You could refer to those details as a potential “fly in the ointment.”

A Useful Way to Describe the Phrase “A Fly in the Ointment”

The following is a fictional scenario to describe when you might use the phrase “a fly in the ointment.”

Just imagine that you are enjoying a beautiful day in the park. You have a blanket, your favorite snacks, a great book to read, and maybe you even brought your dog with you. You are looking forward to enjoying a day in the sun by yourself. You’ve been stressed about work lately and you’re looking forward to relaxing. You’ve only been laying down for a few minutes when your least favorite coworker approaches you and starts chatting about everything you’re trying to avoid at work. You try to give them signals that you’re trying to read your book, but they’re not picking up on them. They invite themselves to sit next to you and keep chatting for the whole afternoon. They are a real “fly in the ointment.”

Businessman taking a nap in a park

Imagine you are taking a break from work by laying down at the park and then a co-worker interrupts your peace to talk about work.

©iStock.com/arekmalang

A Real-Life Scenario from The Los Angeles Times

The phrase “a fly in the ointment” can be applied to pretty much any area of life, even sports. In 2016, the saying was used in an article about baseball in the Los Angeles Times. That year, the Los Angeles Angels lost a whopping 88 games. Despite their losing streak, the team’s manager, Mike Scioscia said he still believed the Angels had a lot of potential and talent.

He talked of their positive qualities, like the fact that they had scored more runs in 2016 than in 2015. However, many of the starting players for the Angels were injured that year for at least part of the season. Scioscia mentioned that the team’s lack of “quality starts,” or strong players who can start out the game in a positive way, was the “real fly in the ointment” of their season. That means that all these injuries really ruined their season. Perhaps one or two of them would have been fine; injuries are expected in sports after all, but so many really put a damper on things.

Possible Pros and Cons of Using the Phrase “A Fly in the Ointment”

This phrase is mostly harmless, and people will not take offense to it. However, if you tell someone that they themselves are the fly in the ointment, they might become offended. That would not be a nice or polite thing to say. In a similar vein, if used in a gossip sort of way, you have to be careful. When referring to any person as a “fly in the ointment” they may become offended if it gets back to them that you said that about them. So, you have to be prepared to deal with any fallout related to calling someone else “a fly in the ointment”.

Additionally, some people with particularly vivid imaginations may become grossed out by the imagery of a fly getting stuck in some ointment. So, it is best not to use it around people who are somewhat squeamish.

Overall, it’s a good phrase to use to describe something small which can ruin something or at least cause annoyance or disappointment.

"A Fly in the Ointment" is a good phrase to describe something small that can spoil the whole thing.

“A Fly in the Ointment” is a good phrase to describe something small that can spoil the whole thing.

©iStock.com/PattayaPhotography

Similar Phrases to “A Fly in the Ointment”

There are other colloquial phrases in English that have a similar meaning to “a fly in the ointment.” Each one does offer a different shade of meaning though, so be sure to do your research before you use a different one if you are not sure of it’s exact meaning.

  • “Throw a wrench in the works” or “Throw a wrench into things”
  • “A turd in the punchbowl”
  • “A worm in the apple”
  • “A ghost at the feast” or “A spectre at the feast”

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/cookelma


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About the Author

Dayva is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering astrology, animals, and geography. She has over 12 years of experience as a writer, and graduated from Hofstra University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Music and a Minor in French. She has also completed course work in Core Strengths Coaching, Hypnotherapy, and Technical Communication. Dayva lives in the SF Bay Area with her cute but very shy cat, Tula.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What does the phrase "a fly in the ointment" mean?

The phrase “a fly in the ointment” means something small that can spoil something, or at least cause an annoyance or make it unpleasant if it doesn’t completely ruin it.

Where does the phrase "a fly in the ointment" come from?

The phrase “a fly in the ointment” is a reference to the Biblical verse Ecclesiastes 10:1 from the King James translation which says “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.”

What was the first usage of the phrase "a fly in the ointment"?

The phrase “a fly in the ointment” was first seen in the early 1700s in the book A Practical Treatise on Humility, by John Norris.

What are phrases that have a similar meaning to "a fly in the ointment"?

Some phrases that have a similar meaning to the saying “a fly in the ointment” include:

  • “Throw a wrench in the works” or “Throw a wrench into things”
  • “A turd in the punchbowl”
  • “A worm in the apple”
  • “A ghost at the feast” or “A spectre at the feast”

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