Hello michellemck-ga,
Although I came across two different theories on the origin of the
phrase “fly in the ointment”, the one that appears to be the most
widely accepted is that it has it’s origin in the Bible.
In “The Bedtime Browser”, by James C. Briggs
(http://www.briggs13.fsnet.co.uk/book/n%20&%20o.htm), it states:
“A fly in the ointment is something that gets in the way; an
encumbrance; a hindrance to the outcome. There are many possible ways
of describing this type of difficulty but why fly and why ointment?
The answer almost certainly lies in the Bible. The book of
Ecclesiastes (10.i) includes "Dead flies cause the ointment of the
apothecary to send forth a stinking savour...."”
At the Word-Detective.com (http://www.word-detective.com/071000.html),
it states:
“One of the earliest fly-based figures of speech, dating back at least
to the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes, is "fly in the ointment,"
which means a small, disagreeable detail that ruins the enjoyment of
something nice, like a jelly doughnut.”
Other references to the Bible as the origin of this phrase are:
Sheffield Hallam University, The Phrase Finder
http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/16/messages/870.html
“The phrase is derived from the Bible (Ecclesiastes 10:1): ‘Dead flies
cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor;
so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and
honour.’” From the “Dictionary of Cliches” by James Rogers (Wings
Books, Originally New York: Facts on File Publications, 1985).”
The Armidale School Weekly News Bulletin
http://www.as.edu.au/TAS/News/bulletins/2002/Term%202/B02T207.pdf
“Have you ever heard someone say “There's a fly in the ointment”? That
phrase comes from this verse: “Dead flies cause the ointment of the
apothecary to send forth a stinking savour” (Ecclesiastes 10:1)[KJV].”
Another theory, which I found mentioned was that it started out as “a
fly in the amber”.
In the same reference from Sheffield Hallam University, The Phrase
Finder (http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/bulletin_board/16/messages/870.html),
it states:
“This modern version suggests that something unpleasant may come or
has come to light in a proposition or condition that is almost too
pleasing; that there is something wrong somewhere. The older version
is ‘a fly in the amber,’ meaning merely that something is as
unexpectedly out of place as the fly that one occasionally finds
embedded in fossilized amber. Possibly the substitution of ‘ointment’
for ‘amber’ may have been through association of ideas, for ‘amber’
was originally used in the sense of ‘ambergris,’ and ambergris is used
in some perfumed ointments.” From “2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings
& Expressions from White Elephants to a Song and Dance” by Charles
Earle Funk (Galahad Book, New York, 1993).”
I hope you have found this information helpful. If you have any
questions, please request clarification prior to rating the answer.
Googlenut
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