A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Or, a chain is no stronger than its weakest link
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
The strength of a system is limited by its most vulnerable part
Literally: a chain's strength depends on its weakest part
Examples
The team's success is compromised because one member is not pulling his weight, proving that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link
AI-drafted example auto-approved by rule (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Sources & notes
Listed on English Wikiquote “English proverbs” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31). Definition drafted by AI (@cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast) and auto-approved by rule on 2026-07-31; pending editor spot-check.
Common questions
What does “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Or, a chain is no stronger than its weakest link” mean?
The strength of a system is limited by its most vulnerable part Literally: a chain's strength depends on its weakest part
Is “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Or, a chain is no stronger than its weakest link” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.