Feet of clay
Feet of clay means a weakness or fault in someone admired, or in something that seems strong; it comes from the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in The Book of Daniel, where a splendid statue has feet partly made of clay.
Where it comes from
The statue in the dream
The image appears in a dream that Daniel explains to King Nebuchadnezzar. The statue’s impressive metals rest on feet made of iron mixed with clay, suggesting a divided and fragile kingdom.
In The Book of Daniel, a stone strikes the statue’s feet, and the whole figure breaks apart. Daniel explains that the statue represents a succession of kingdoms.
In The Book of Daniel by Traditional attribution to Daniel
A fault beneath an admired surface
Today the phrase often describes a flaw that makes an admired person seem less worthy of trust. It can also describe a weakness beneath an impressive institution or plan.
In Middlemarch, Dorothea hopes Casaubon will offer wisdom and a life devoted to scholarship. As their marriage unfolds, his jealousy and narrowness reveal the faults beneath her ideal picture of him.
In Middlemarch by George Eliot
How to use Feet of clay
- Use it when admiration gives way to awareness of a serious fault.
- Name the weakness if your reader does not already know it.
- Choose a milder phrase for an ordinary, harmless mistake.
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Does feet of clay always mean a moral fault?
No, it can mean any serious weakness beneath an appearance of strength. When applied to a person, it often suggests a fault in character. For a business, institution, or plan, it may mean an unstable foundation rather than wrongdoing.
What is the difference between feet of clay and an Achilles’ heel?
Feet of clay usually challenges admiration, while an Achilles’ heel is a particular vulnerable point. Someone with an Achilles’ heel may still deserve respect. Discovering feet of clay often means finding that a hero or trusted figure falls short of the image others held.
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