Achilles' heel

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This article deals with the phrase "Achilles' heel". For the part of the body, see Achilles tendon.

An Achilles' heel is a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength, actually or potentially leading to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, metaphorical references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to their downfall are common.

Origin

The Iliad describes the death of Achilles from an heel wound from an arrow fired by Paris.

According to a myth arising later, his mother, Thetis, had dipped the infant Achilles in the river Styx, holding onto him by his heel, and he became invulnerable where the waters touched him -- that is, everywhere but the areas covered by her thumb and forefinger -- implying that only a heel wound could have been his downfall.

The use of "Achilles' heel" (or "Achilles heel") as an English expression for "area of weakness, vulnerable spot" dates only to 1855 (Merriam-Webster), or, in the form "heel of Achilles," 1810 (OED: Coleridge, "Ireland, that vulnerable heel of the British Achilles".)

The Achilles' heel as a singular weakness is a cliche in superhero comics.

See also

• Duryodhana, an Indian tale of a small area of vulnerability
• Achilles tendon

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