| English Dictionary |
FLY IN THE OINTMENT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does fly in the ointment mean?
• FLY IN THE OINTMENT (noun)
The noun FLY IN THE OINTMENT has 1 sense:
1. an inconvenience that detracts from the usefulness of something
Familiarity information: FLY IN THE OINTMENT used as a noun is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
An inconvenience that detracts from the usefulness of something
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("fly in the ointment" is a kind of...):
inconvenience; troublesomeness; worriment (a difficulty that causes anxiety)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"To kill two birds with one stone." (English proverb)
"Walk lightly in the spring; Mother Earth is pregnant." (Native American proverb, Kiowa)
"Avoid what will require an apology." (Arabic proverb)
"Where there's a will, there is a way." (Dutch proverb)
"Walk lightly in the spring; Mother Earth is pregnant." (Native American proverb, Kiowa)
"Avoid what will require an apology." (Arabic proverb)
"Where there's a will, there is a way." (Dutch proverb)