what is achilles heel mean
An Achilles heel is a weakness in spite of overall strength, which 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. Synonyms.he use of âAchilles heelâ as an expression meaning âarea of weakness, vulnerable spotâ dates only to 1840, with implied use in Samuel Taylor Coleridge 's Ireland, that vulnerable heel of the British Achilles! from 1810 (Oxford English Dictionary).