Achilles' heel

We learned yesterday "Kryptonite" is the weakness of Superman.   Here is another expression for weakness:

Achilles' heel

an expression meaning area of weakness or vulnerable spot in spite of overall strength. 

Origin:   In Greek mythology, Achilles was a great Greek warrior who has only one vulnerable spot, his heel.  He was killed when Paris wound him in his heel with a poisonous arrow. 

"She is trying to lose weight, but ice cream is her Achilles' heel."

"Women, as everyone knows, are his Achilles' heel."

"Manufacturing is Singapore’s Achilles' heel.  The sector has been in a bleak situation for years, owing to a slowing China and soft developed country demand."

Kryptonite

Kryptonite 

noun. 1). a mineral from the planet Krypton that ultimately defeats Superman 2). someone's ultimate weakness or anything that causes someone's ultimate weakness

"Superman had his Kryptonite, Achilles had his heel, and the Patriots have the Tom Coughlin-Eli Manning Giants."

"Fear of failure is an athlete’s kryptonite."

"Supergirl's personal kryptonite is her tendency to apologize for herself."

turducken

Happy Thanksgiving! Let's learn a Thanksgiving word:

turducken [tur-Duhk-uh n]

noun. 1) an American Thanksgiving dish: consists of a chicken, stuffed into a duck, stuffed into a turkey 2) Any plan that is unnecessarily complicated or futile

"It is so so complicated, are we baking up a turducken?"

knee jerk reaction

knee jerk reaction 

idiom.  reacting according to a certain habit, without careful consideration

"It is important that we are not drawn into knee jerk reactions to the tragedy in Paris. Any action taken must be carefully considered and states cannot act rashly and alone."

"The knee jerk reaction of many of us upon seeing an obese person is we believe that person lacks self-control. It's more complicated."

"The knee jerk reaction to the release of Amazon's  Echo, a connected speaker with voice command integration, is -- why would I want an Amazon controlled listening device."

through thick and thin

through thick and thin

idiom.  through good and bad times; under all circumstances

"Thanksgiving Thought:  I am thankful for my family who put up with me and I am thankful for my friends who support me. I know that I can always rely on them to be there for me through thick and thin.”

"The sisters promised they would stick together through thick and thin."

"Despite all obstacles or adversities, she promised to stand by him through thick and thin."

succumb

succumb     [suh-Kuhm] 

verb.  1)  give in or yield to something (temptation, fear, pressure, etc.).   2)  die from effects of disease or injury. 

"We do not succumb to fear." — President Obama on our fight against ISIL.

"Scientists do not succumb easily to superstition."

"Children are especially at risk of succumbing to the extreme cold."

shambles

shambles     [sham-buh l z]

noun.  a total disorder or great mess

"It was hard to find a job in architecture, when the housing market was in shambles."

"There were melons and milk spilled all over the floor of the supermarket, which was in a shambles."

"The Jets have dropped four of their last five games, triggering a full-blown crisis. Their once-promising season is now in shambles."