a fly in the ointment
an irritating factor
TRANSLATION
Ein Haken bei der Sache; Es ist ein Haar in der Suppe fly = die Fliege ointment = die Salbe
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
Marketing sometimes regards engineering as a fly in the ointment
Did you
know?
a fly in the ointment
Is an interesting idiom which is quite different to the German idioms.
This term must go back to medieval alchemists mixing strange medicines and finding dead insects in their concoctions.
Here are some other common uses of "fly" which you can feel free to use in English:
Must FLY! = Muss schon wieder los!
sparks FLY [coll.] = die Fetzen fliegen
to fly into a passion = in Wut geraten
I'd like to be a FLY on the wall. = Da würde ich gern Mäuschen spielen.
fly-by-night adj. = unverantwortlich; unverlässlich
He breaks a fly on the wheel. = Er schießt mit Kanonen auf Spatzen.
Is an interesting idiom which is quite different to the German idioms.
This term must go back to medieval alchemists mixing strange medicines and finding dead insects in their concoctions.
Here are some other common uses of "fly" which you can feel free to use in English:
Must FLY! = Muss schon wieder los!
sparks FLY [coll.] = die Fetzen fliegen
to fly into a passion = in Wut geraten
I'd like to be a FLY on the wall. = Da würde ich gern Mäuschen spielen.
fly-by-night adj. = unverantwortlich; unverlässlich
He breaks a fly on the wheel. = Er schießt mit Kanonen auf Spatzen.
