achilles' heel — a weak point or fault in someone or something otherwise perfect or excellent
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a weak point or fault in someone or something otherwise perfect or excellent
Pronunciation (IPA): /əˈkɪliːz hiːl/
Example Sentences
- The tech giant's Achilles' heel turned out to be customer service - their phones were amazing but nobody could figure out how to get help when they broke.
- Despite being a brilliant surgeon, his Achilles' heel was his terrible handwriting - even pharmacists couldn't read his prescriptions.
- The champion boxer's Achilles' heel was revealed when he fainted at the sight of a small spider in the ring.
achilles' heel
NOUN[/əˈkɪliːz hiːl/]
a weak point or fault in someone or something otherwise perfect or excellent
The mighty general's fear of spiders became his achilles' heel on the battlefield.
His Achilles' heel becomes real, no deal can conceal!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase derives from Greek mythology, specifically the legend of Achilles, the greatest warrior of the Trojan War. According to the myth, Achilles' mother Thetis dipped him in the River Styx to make him invulnerable, but his heel—by which she held him—remained untouched by the magical waters, becoming his only mortal weakness. He was eventually killed by an arrow to the heel, and the phrase now metaphorically denotes a seemingly invincible person's single critical vulnerability.
Breakdown
Achilles' (possessive form of the proper name Achilles, the legendary Greek hero) + heel (the rear part of the foot). The phrase combines the hero's name with the anatomical term for the specific vulnerable point that led to his downfall.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The tech giant's Achilles' heel turned out to be customer service - their phones were amazing but nobody could figure out how to get help when they broke.”
“Despite being a brilliant surgeon, his Achilles' heel was his terrible handwriting - even pharmacists couldn't read his prescriptions.”
“The champion boxer's Achilles' heel was revealed when he fainted at the sight of a small spider in the ring.”
“Many successful companies have data security as their Achilles' heel in the digital age.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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