See the full definition for Achilles' heel in the English Language Learners Dictionary, More from Merriam-Webster on Achilles' heel, Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for Achilles' heel. 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'. What has become a cliche in the English language is one of several modern-day phrases that are left to us from ancient Greek mythology. See more. There will also be a list of synonyms for your answer. Change your default dictionary to American English. This area could also have been included in Thetis's grip. a seemingly small but actual mortal weakness ; Anagrams of Achilles' heel ACHILLES HEEL. English Language Learners Definition of Achilles' heel. Although the legend is ancient, the phrase only entered English in the 19th century. Thanks for visiting The Crossword Solver. Definition of achilles heel in the Definitions.net dictionary. [7], Classical myths attribute Achilles' invulnerability to his mother Thetis having treated him with ambrosia and burned away his mortality in the hearth fire except on the heel, by which she held him. Achilles' heel; Etymology . Learn a new word every day. See also: Achilles heel The common phrase "Achilles' heel" refers to a surprising weakness or vulnerability in an otherwise strong or powerful person, a vulnerability that eventually leads to a downfall. This is the British English definition of Achilles’ heel.View American English definition of Achilles’ heel. An Achilles’ heel is a deadly weakness in spite of overall strength, that can actually or potentially lead to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, idiomatic references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to downfall are common. Definition of Achilles' heel written for English Language Learners from the Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary with audio pronunciations, usage examples, and count/noncount noun labels. "[10][11] As an expression meaning "area of weakness, vulnerable spot," the use of "Achilles heel" dates only to 1840, with implied use in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Ireland, that vulnerable heel of the British Achilles!" Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Related to Achilles Heel: heel pain A specific vulnerability or weakness Molecular biology The terminus of a DNA helix is likened to an Achilles' heel, given its lability when it is not ‘capped’ by a telomere Definition, Synonyms, Translations of Achilles heel by The Free Dictionary View the pronunciation for Achilles’ heel. ‘The fiscal service has long been regarded as the Achilles' heel of the whole criminal justice system.’ ‘The concession of late goals has been their Achilles' heel over the last year or so.’ ‘So the narcissist does, after all, have an Achilles' heel - being blind to her own faults.’ Accessed 6 Jan. 2021. Achilles grew up to be a man of war who survived many great battles. Cite error: A … Achilles tendonitis causes pain and stiffness at the back of the leg, near the heel. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, metaphorical references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to downfall are common. A seemingly small but actually crucial weakness. Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. What's the origin of the phrase 'Achilles' heel'? CONTINUE SCROLLING OR CLICK HERE FOR RELATED SLIDESHOW Achilles' heel. Definition and synonyms of Achilles’ heel from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education. Achilles heel definition, a portion, spot, area, or the like, that is especially or solely vulnerable: His Achilles heel is his quick temper. In his widely used text Corporis Humani Anatomia he described the tendon's location and said that it was commonly called "the cord of Achilles. How to pronounce Achilles heel. The Achilles tendon is the very prominent and tough band of tissue that connects the heel bone (calcaneus) to the calf muscles. Jump to navigation Jump to search. An Achilles' heel is a weak or vulnerable factor - especially one where all other components are strong. DICTIONARY.COM He was later killed by an arrow wound to the heel. Just as it was for Achilles, this area is vulnerable for all of us, as many people suffer a rupture of this tendon during sports activities or exercise, especially after the age of 30. Meaning of achilles heel. iz ˈhil / a weak point in a person or system that can result in its failure (Definition of Achilles heel from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press) Translations of … Synonyms: weakness, failing, lack, fault More Synonyms of Achilles heel An Achilles heel[1][2] is a weakness in spite of overall strength, which can lead to downfall. Your Achilles tendon is the thickest and strongest tendon … For the anatomical part, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Achilles heel | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary", "Achilles heel | Definition of Achilles heel by Lexico", http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022%3Atext%3DEpitome%3Abook%3DE%3Achapter%3D5%3Asection%3D3, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Achilles%27_heel&oldid=995015173, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles that may contain original research from June 2019, All articles that may contain original research, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 18 December 2020, at 19:12. ‘The fiscal service has long been regarded as the Achilles' heel of the whole criminal justice system.’ ‘The concession of late goals has been their Achilles' heel over the last year or so.’ ‘So the narcissist does, after all, have an Achilles' heel - being blind to her own faults.’ Ancient Greek hero Achilles was made invulnerable by being dipped in the river Styx to make him.! 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