Achilles heel
noun /əˌkɪliːz ˈhiːl/
/əˌkɪliːz ˈhiːl/
[usually singular]- a weak point or fault in somebody’s character, which can be attacked by other people
- The desire for publicity became her Achilles heel.
- The enemy had an Achilles heel somewhere, if only he could find it.
More Like This Expressions from history and legendExpressions from history and legend- Achilles heel
- Cinderella
- Herculean
- Mephistophelian
- Midas touch
- narcissism
- odyssey
- Prince Charming
- Procrustean
- Promethean
- Pyrrhic
- Robin Hood
- Scylla and Charybdis
- Sleeping Beauty
- Stygian
- Titan
Word OriginNamed after the Greek hero Achilles. When he was a small child, his mother held him below the surface of the river Styx to protect him against any injury. She held him by his heel, which therefore was not touched by the water. Achilles died after being wounded by an arrow in the heel.