Definition

Noun: A minor but irritating flaw or drawback that spoils an otherwise positive or satisfactory situation; a small annoyance that mars the enjoyment or effectiveness of something.

Usage

This idiom is used to describe a single negative element in an otherwise good or pleasant situation. It highlights how one small problem can detract from the overall quality or enjoyment. It is typically used with the definite article "the" (i.e., the fly in the ointment).

Examples

• The weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and the company was great. The fly in the ointment was the loud music from the neighboring campsite.
• The new software update has many excellent features. The only fly in the ointment is that it sometimes crashes on older devices.
• Her promotion was fantastic news. The fly in the ointment is that she will have to relocate to another city.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be modified with adjectives like "only," "single," or "major" to emphasize the nature of the flaw.
  • The only fly in the ointment was the cost.
  • It's a great plan, but there's a major fly in the ointment we haven't discussed.
• It functions as a predicate noun, often following the verb "to be" (is, was, are, were).

Variants and Related Words

• Drawback (n): A feature that renders something less acceptable or desirable; a disadvantage.
• Snag (n): An unexpected or hidden obstacle or drawback.
• Downside (n): The negative aspect of something otherwise positive.

Synonyms

• Drawback
• Disadvantage
• Hitch
• Snag
• Catch
• Minus
• Stumbling block

Antonyms

• Asset
• Advantage
• Bonus
• Boon
• Perk

Related Idioms

• A spanner in the works (UK) / A wrench in the works (US): Something that causes a process or plan to fail or go wrong.
• A blot on the landscape: Something that spoils the appearance or enjoyment of a place or situation.
• The weak link (in the chain): The most vulnerable or unreliable part of a system.

Noun

1. an inconvenience that detracts from the usefulness of something