Achilles' heel is a popular expression meaning the weak point of someone and conveys the idea of weakness and vulnerability. It is the point where a person feels more fragile, not having enough control to control a given situation.
Example: He was a promising young man in his chosen career, but unfortunately drug and alcohol were his Achilles' heel.
In addition to people, the Achilles' heel also designates the vulnerable point of an organization, a project or a task to be performed.
Example: The Achilles' heel of Internet shopping is the delay in delivering the ordered products.
Calcanhar de Aquiles is also a song included in the latest studio album by artist Elis Regina.
Many heel pains are caused by an injury to the Achilles tendon, the largest tendon in the human body. Achilles tendonitis is one such example and consists of an inflammation of this tendon.
Achilles Heel and Greek Mythology
According to Greek mythology, Achilles was a great warrior, son of King Peleus (king of the Myrmidons) and Thetis, Greek goddess of the sea. Thetis intended to ensure her son's immortality by submerging him in the waters of the river Styx. That's how Achilles became invulnerable, except for the one spot where Thetis held him that didn't get wet: the heel.
Achilles won many battles in the Trojan War, but a prophecy indicated that he would die in that war. And so it was. After killing Hector and dragging his body through Troy, Hector's brother Paris pierced an arrow through the heel of the warrior Achilles and killed him.
