An Achilles heel is a weakness in a person or organization that is otherwise very strong:
Tony is usually very healthy but sugar is his Achilles’ heel.
This phrase is a reference to the story of the ancient Greek hero Achilles, who is most famous for his role in the Trojan War. When Achilles was born, his mother was told that he would die young. So, in order to protect him, magically, she dipped her baby in the river Styx—the river between our world and the world of the dead, making him invincible—so he could not be hurt physically. But when she dipped Achilles in the magical river, she held the baby by one heel— and so that heel was not dipped in the magic water, and was therefore not protected. Later, during the Trojan War, Achilles was killed by a poison arrow shot into that heel.
It’s a common expression to say that everyone has an Achilles heel, as a reminder that no one is perfect or invincible.
More Examples of “Achilles Heel” in a Sentence
- But, just like their crosstown rival, vulnerability against pace is an achilles heel.
- For the Canadian team, tackling was their achilles heel, missing 46 out of 207 attempts.
- Ralph’s gambling addiction has been his achilles heel for the last four years.
- The team sensed their opponents’ achilles heel and nipped away relentlessly.
- Defensively, they seem to be solid but consistency has often been their achilles heel.