a chain is only as strong as its weakest link
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: a chain is as strong as its weakest link · a chain is no stronger than its weakest link
Meaning · English
A system is only as strong as its weakest part
Literally: a metal chain breaking at its weakest link
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Sources & notes
Listed on Wikipedia “List of proverbial phrases” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review. Definition drafted by AI (@cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast) and auto-approved by rule on 2026-07-30; pending editor spot-check.
Common questions
What does “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link” mean?
A system is only as strong as its weakest part Literally: a metal chain breaking at its weakest link
Is “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.