flea in one's ear, to have a

have a flea in (one's) ear

To have been given a sharp, strident, or disconcerting reproof or rebuff. A: "Hey, I think there's a mistake in the spreadsheet." B: "I know, I know. I already have a flea in my ear from the boss because of it."

See also: ear, flea, have

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

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, to

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer