fly in the ointment
phrase
as in difficulty
something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult
The delay in the delivery of our appliances was a fly in the ointment during our kitchen renovation.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Cite this Entry
“Fly in the ointment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fly%20in%20the%20ointment. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share