Instead of fly in the milk; hair in the soup doesn't have a direct No. American English equivalent that yet comes to mind.

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Note added at 12 mins (2005-07-24 16:45:58 GMT)
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And I think there was a KudoZ question in the last 6 months where other similar saying were posted, including \"sand in the gears\", \"monkeywrench\" and other phrases, if other phrases are what you are after in addition to these. By the way, you could certainly use \"hair in the soup\" -- it really gives one pause and conveys the sentiments viscerally! : )

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Note added at 18 mins (2005-07-24 16:52:26 GMT)
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Here is one link that might give you more info:

<http://www.proz.com/kudoz/1022895>

Suerte.

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Note added at 20 mins (2005-07-24 16:54:18 GMT)
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grain de sable qui dérègle la machine => a fly in the ointment

grain de sable qui dérègle la machine

from:

\"Le Crime était Presque Parfait” illustre à merveille la théorie du grain de sable qui dérègle la machine...

(in the blurb of a Hitchcock DVD)

I\'m sure there\'s an English idiom for this but I can\'t think what it is...

Accepted Answer - Points: 4


the fly in the ointment?

Maybe we need a little more of the context. The idea seems to be that of an inevitable flaw or tiny mistake. Perhaps paraphrase.


Feedback
Asker: thanks - this is probably the closest




Answers

Confidence
(Adjusted) Suggested Answers (8) Answerer
3 +4 the fly in the ointment?
david angel

5 +1 the devil in the detail
Jane Lamb-Ruiz

5 the spanner in the works / sand in the gears
Cheung Mo

4 Throw a monkey wrench into the works
Elizabeth Lyons

2 +1 tiny piece of grit that upsets the works
Dusty

3 a pebble that upsets the (whole) apple cart
Charlie Bavington

3 little strokes fell great oaks
Rita Heller