glass jaw: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “glass jaw” mean?
A term from boxing for a fighter whose jaw is vulnerable and easily broken by a punch.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A term from boxing for a fighter whose jaw is vulnerable and easily broken by a punch; a physical weakness or susceptibility.
A metaphor for any critical point of vulnerability in a person, system, or organization, especially one that leads to a sudden and total failure when exploited.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or form. The term originates from and is commonly understood in both boxing cultures.
Connotations
Identical connotations of fatal vulnerability.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to the prominence of boxing terminology in sports journalism, but widely used in UK media and commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “glass jaw” in a Sentence
[Subject] + have/possess + a glass jaw[Subject]'s + glass jaw + [was/is] + exposed/targeted/exploitedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “glass jaw” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The opposition quickly glass-jawed the PM on the NHS waiting times issue.
- His argument was glass-jawed by a simple question.
American English
- The prosecutor glass-jawed the defense's case with the new evidence.
- Their campaign got glass-jawed in the first debate.
adverb
British English
- The system failed glass-jawedly after the cyberattack.
American English
- The stock market reacted glass-jawedly to the news.
adjective
British English
- He's a bit glass-jawed when it comes to personal criticism.
- The glass-jawed defence collapsed under pressure.
American English
- It was a glass-jawed strategy from the start.
- The team has a glass-jawed quarterback who folds under a blitz.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe a company's over-reliance on a single product line or a CEO's poor crisis management skills. 'The merger revealed the company's glass jaw: its outdated IT infrastructure.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing but may appear in political science or economics analysing systemic risks. 'The study identifies demographic decline as the nation's geopolitical glass jaw.'
Everyday
Used humorously or critically about a person's emotional or physical sensitivity. 'Don't criticise his cooking—it's his glass jaw.'
Technical
Primarily in sports commentary (boxing, MMA). In cybersecurity, used analogously for a single point of failure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “glass jaw”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “glass jaw”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glass jaw”
- Using it to describe a general, non-critical weakness (e.g., 'I have a glass jaw for chocolate' – incorrect).
- Confusing it with being 'thin-skinned.' A glass jaw refers to a *structural* vulnerability to a *decisive blow*, not general sensitivity.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. It is inherently a term of criticism, pointing out a fatal weakness.
It can be, as it implies they are fundamentally fragile or weak in a critical area. Use with caution in personal contexts.
A 'glass jaw' is a specific type of weakness: it is the *one* critical vulnerability that, if struck, causes complete and sudden failure. A general weakness may not be catastrophic.
Yes, very commonly. It is frequently applied to arguments, economies, computer systems, business models, and military strategies.
A term from boxing for a fighter whose jaw is vulnerable and easily broken by a punch.
Glass jaw is usually informal, figurative in register.
Glass jaw: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡlɑːs ˈdʒɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡlæs ˈdʒɔː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He got hit on his glass jaw and the fight was over.”
- “Every strategy has its glass jaw.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a champion boxer with a jaw made of literal glass. One clean hit and it shatters, ending the fight instantly. This image captures the idea of a hidden, catastrophic weakness.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEAKNESS IS FRAGILITY (OF GLASS). A complex system/person is a body; its critical flaw is a fragile jaw.
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts is 'glass jaw' used LEAST appropriately?