Achilles tendon
Meaning
The Achilles tendon is the large tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone, and metaphorically, it refers to a person's or system's primary weakness or vulnerability.
Origin
In ancient Greek mythology, the formidable hero Achilles was destined for greatness, yet his mother, the sea nymph Thetis, sought to make him immortal. She dipped the infant Achilles into the sacred River Styx, whose waters bestowed invulnerability, but she held him by his heel, leaving that single point untouched by the magic. Achilles grew into an unparalleled warrior, his body impervious to harm, until, during the Trojan War, Paris, guided by Apollo, shot a poisoned arrow directly into Achilles' unprotected heel, bringing about the downfall of the seemingly invincible hero. This tale forever etched his vulnerability into language, giving us the term for the large tendon connecting the calf to the heel, and metaphorically, any fatal weakness.
Examples
- He tore his Achilles tendon playing basketball and will be out for the rest of the season.
- Lack of adequate security proved to be the system's Achilles tendon, leading to a major data breach.