achilles heel
B2Formal, Semi-formal, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A vulnerable or fatal weakness in an otherwise strong person or thing.
A single, critical point of failure or susceptibility that can lead to defeat, ruin, or downfall.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Capitalization of 'Achilles' is often inconsistent. The term implies the weakness is inherent, specific, and potentially catastrophic. It is countable and often used with possessive forms (e.g., 'his Achilles heel').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. British English may show a slightly higher tendency to capitalise 'Achilles'.
Connotations
Both varieties carry the same connotations of classical allusion and fatal flaw.
Frequency
Equally common and well-understood in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Person/Thing]'s Achilles heel is [weakness][Weakness] is the Achilles heel of [Person/Thing]to have an Achilles heelVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A chink in one's armour”
- “The weak link in the chain”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe a critical vulnerability in a strategy, product, or market position (e.g., 'Our over-reliance on a single supplier is our Achilles heel.').
Academic
Used in literary criticism, political science, and history to analyse characters, systems, or theories (e.g., 'The theory's Achilles heel is its untestable core assumption.').
Everyday
Used to describe a personal weakness, often humorous or self-deprecating (e.g., 'Chocolate cake is my Achilles heel.').
Technical
Rare in hard sciences; used in engineering/security metaphorically for a single point of failure.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The strategy was ultimately achilles-heeled by its complexity.
American English
- The defense was achilles-heeled by a lack of speed.
adjective
British English
- They identified the achilles-heel vulnerability in the software.
American English
- The team's achilles-heel issue was poor communication.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Chocolate is my Achilles heel.
- His Achilles heel is talking too much.
- The team's defence is strong, but their goalkeeper is their Achilles heel.
- Lack of public transport is the city's Achilles heel.
- The investigator knew that vanity was the suspect's Achilles heel and used it to get a confession.
- The company's rapid growth masked its Achilles heel: unsustainable debt.
- The treaty's Achilles heel proved to be its lack of an enforcement mechanism, which rendered it largely symbolic.
- For all his intellectual rigour, his Achilles heel was an inability to delegate, which eventually led to burnout.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember the Greek hero Achilles: his mother dipped him in the River Styx, making him invulnerable except for the HEEL she held him by. His HEEL was his one weak spot.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON/THING IS A HERO WITH A SINGLE VULNERABILITY.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation 'пятка Ахиллеса'. The standard equivalent is 'ахиллесова пята'.
- Do not confuse with 'слабое место', which is broader and less dramatic.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'Achilles heal' (incorrect).
- Using it for multiple weaknesses (it implies one key weakness).
- Using it without the possessive (e.g., 'He has Achilles heel' should be 'He has an Achilles heel').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Achilles heel' LEAST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as it is a proper name (the Greek hero Achilles). However, in common usage, it is sometimes seen in lowercase, especially in informal contexts.
Typically, no. The metaphor originates from a single, specific weakness (Achilles' heel). Using it for multiple weaknesses dilutes the meaning. For several weaknesses, terms like 'weaknesses' or 'shortcomings' are better.
It can be perceived as critical or pointed, as it highlights a significant flaw. Context and tone are important. It is often used in analytical or self-referential contexts rather than as a direct personal insult.
It comes from Greek mythology. The warrior Achilles was dipped in the River Styx as a baby, making him invulnerable except for the heel by which his mother held him. He was later killed by an arrow wound to that heel.