“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase means that the effectiveness or strength of a group is determined by its weakest or most vulnerable part.
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Where it comes from
The phrase is believed to have originated in the 18th century or earlier, with the earliest recorded usage traced to Thomas Reid’s Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man in 1786.
Examples
- In our project team, everyone must do their part well because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
- The cybersecurity of the network depends on everyone being vigilant; a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
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