每日一词学英语(141-16/09/09): Achilles’ heel

希腊英雄Achilles小的时候，他妈妈把他浸没到Styx河里以求保护他不受伤害。他的脚后跟被他妈妈的手托着，因此没挨上河水。后来，Achilles被一箭射伤脚后跟而亡。

Achilles’ heel (alternative spelling of Achilles heel)是单数形式，复数是在heel后加s。noun [sing.] a weak point or fault in sb’s character, which can be attacked by other people。
*The desire for publicity became her Achilles heel.
*The enemy had an Achilles heel somewhere, if only he could find it.
*About 8 per cent of Caucasian men but fewer than 0.5 per cent of females are colour blind. The reason for this lies in a genetic Achilles’ heel particular to males. (From Times Online, September 16, 2009: X marks the spot: why men don't see red – or green) 白种男人有8%是色盲，而白种女人只有0.5%是色盲。这是因为人类尤其是男人在基因上的致命弱点。