sour note

But the more explicit “sour note” is the hallmark of this first book.

Another attempted union, with Tunisia in 1974, also ended up on a sour note.

It was just a single sour note in the story, but it stuck out.

The Imp cried—absolutely cried for vexation—when a curt and sour note from Southend told her the issue.

But it must be confessed a sour note had come into the life of the owner of the Great Hope.

You never get a sour note in a jet job—or if you do you don't get annoyed.

I talked to you—her—on office transmitter once and didn't spot a sour note.