A fly in the ointment is one annoying detail that spoils an otherwise good situation. The cottage was lovely; the only fly in the ointment was the noisy road nearby. People most often say the only fly in the ointment is… Ointment is a healing cream, and one fly stuck in it ruins the whole jar.
When would you say a fly in the ointment?
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the only fly in the ointment is + drawback; be a fly in the ointment
- The cottage was lovely; the only fly in the ointment was the noisy road nearby.
- The extra paperwork became a fly in the ointment for an otherwise simple move.
- There was one fly in the ointment: the concert ended after the last train.
What changed
First versionThe only fly on the ointment was the missing balcony.
RevisionThe only fly in the ointment was the missing balcony.
Flies usually land on things, so on seems natural: a fly on the ointment. But in the idiom the fly is stuck inside the cream, so the preposition is in: a fly in the ointment.
The icing on the cake is the opposite: a nice extra on top of something good. A drawback is just a disadvantage, neutral and fine for essays: the only drawback was the noise.
Your turn
Complete the idiom for a drawback in an otherwise good situation: a fly ___ the ointment.
Show the answer
in — In the idiom the fly is inside the cream: in the ointment. There's no version with on.
Describe an almost perfect trip or flat with one annoying drawback, using the only fly in the ointment.
The apartment was bright and spacious; the only fly in the ointment was the tiny kitchen.
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