Modern Meaning
What Does “Feet of clay” Mean?
A fundamental weakness in someone admired.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
In Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel interpreted a great statue with a head of gold but feet made partly of clay — a hidden vulnerability that would bring the whole structure down. The phrase entered English to describe the hidden flaws of seemingly powerful people.
The phrase appears in Daniel 2:33 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Used when discovering that an admired person has serious flaws. "The biography revealed the hero's feet of clay."
The KJV Verse
Daniel 2:33
“His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.”
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