Dictionary

feet of clay en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Used in the Bible, part of the description of the huge statue in the dream of Chaldean King Nebuchadnezzar.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, plural, plural-only) In someone apparently strong and without failings, a hidden weakness which could lead to downfall.
   • Those Pagod things of sabre-sway, / With fronts of brass, and feet of clay. 1814, Lord Byron, Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte:
   • He was disillusioned to find that even Lincoln had feet of clay.
   • Oh yes, man is a fool / And he thinks he'll be okay / Dragging on, feet of clay 1980, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, “Happy New Year”, in Super Trouper, performed by Abba:

Relateds

Achilles heel

Translations (11)

fi savijalat (a hidden weak point) · uk гли́няні но́ги (a hidden weak point) · de tönerne Füße (a hidden weak point) · ru гли́няные но́ги (a hidden weak point) · grc πόδες ὀστράκινοι (a hidden weak point) · da lerfødder (a hidden weak point) · fr pieds d'argile (a hidden weak point) · es pies de barro (a hidden weak point) · la pedes fictiles (a hidden weak point) · cmn 泥足巨人 (a hidden weak point) · nb leirføtter (a hidden weak point)