Achilles heel
Meaning
A fundamental weakness or vulnerability in an otherwise strong person or system.
Origin
The phrase stems from the ancient Greek myth of Achilles, the greatest warrior of the Trojan War. As an infant, his mother, the sea nymph Thetis, dipped him into the magical River Styx, hoping to make him immortal and invulnerable. She held him by his heel, and this small point of contact was the only part of his body not touched by the sacred waters, remaining mortal and unprotected. Ultimately, a poisoned arrow, guided by Apollo, struck this very spot, leading to the mighty warrior's death and giving us a timeless metaphor for a fatal flaw.
Examples
- Despite his brilliant strategies, overconfidence was his Achilles heel in every major negotiation.
- The company's biggest Achilles heel was its outdated technology, which left it vulnerable to competitors.