The heel of Achilles
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The vulnerable or weak point in a man's character or of a nation. Aching Void, An. That desolation of heart which arises from the recollection of some cherished endearment no longer possessed.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The heel of Achilles” mean?
The vulnerable or weak point in a man's character or of a nation. Aching Void, An. That desolation of heart which arises from the recollection of some cherished endearment no longer possessed.
Is “The heel of Achilles” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.