fatal flaw
Meaning
A character defect or inherent weakness that inevitably leads to one's downfall or the failure of a plan or system.
Origin
The phrase "fatal flaw" finds its dramatic roots in the ancient Greek concept of hamartia, a term brought into prominence by Aristotle in his Poetics. He didn't describe it as simply a moral failing, but rather a profound error in judgment or a fundamental character defect—a misstep that, under the harsh spotlight of fate, inevitably unravels a hero's life. Picture the mighty Oedipus, whose very determination and pride become the instruments of his horrific downfall. This powerful idea, that even the greatest among us carry within them the seed of their own destruction, migrated from the sun-drenched amphitheatres of Greece into the English language, where "fatal flaw" now captures that exquisite, often tragic, point of vulnerability.
Examples
- His stubborn pride proved to be his fatal flaw, leading him to reject all sound advice.
- The beautiful bridge design had a fatal flaw: it couldn't withstand strong crosswinds.