flea in one's ear, to have a
flea in one's ear, to have a
To be upset or annoyed by a rebuke or a rejection. This term dates back at least to the fifteenth century in English, and may be older yet in French. It appeared in John Heywood’s 1546 proverb collection and has continued to be used ever since.
See also: flea, have
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- brouhaha
- mind's eye, in my
- black book, (put) in one's
- back of one's hand
- dressing down, a
- kiss the blarney stone, to
- good graces, to be/get in one's
- plain as day/the nose on your face
- be on the carpet
- on the carpet, to be/call/put