Achilles heel

Meaning

Achilles heel is an idiom that refers to a person's weakness or vulnerability, often something that they are not aware of themselves. The idiom comes from the story of Achilles, who was invincible in battle except for his heel, which was vulnerable to attack.

Usage

• Despite being a successful businessman, John's Achilles heel was his tendency to procrastinate when it came to making big decisions.
• Sarah is a great athlete, but her Achilles heel is her lack of mental focus during games.
• The company's Achilles heel was their reliance on a single product line, which left them vulnerable to market shifts.
• Mark's communication skills were his Achilles heel in the workplace, as he struggled to articulate his ideas effectively.
• After years of neglecting her health, Emma's Achilles heel was revealed when she suffered a serious medical issue that could have been prevented.

Roots and History

The idiom "Achilles heel" dates back to ancient Greek mythology, where Achilles was one of the greatest warriors in Greek history. His only weakness was his heel, which was vulnerable to attack. The first recorded use of the idiom in English is found in a book written by William Shakespeare in 1602 called "The Knave of Diamonds." Over time, the idiom has evolved to refer to any weakness or vulnerability that a person has, regardless of whether it is physical or mental.

Synonyms in English

• Weakness
• Vulnerability
• Flaw
• Fault
• Limitations

Synonyms in other languages

• French: Faiblesse (Weakness)
• German: Schwachheit (Vulnerability)
• Spanish: Vulnerabilidad (Flaw)
• Italian: Debolezza (Limitations)
• Chinese: 弱点 (Vulnerability)
• Japanese: 弱い点 (Weakness)

Similar Idioms

• a trip to the sun

• pardon me

• fat chance