Question

Use the information in the video to interpret the meaning of the allusion in the following sentence.
Antony decided to give up junk food and eat only healthy snacks, but ice cream was his Achilles’ heel.

Answer 1

The phrase "Achilles’ heel" alludes to the Greek myth of Achilles, who was invulnerable except for the heel where he was either held when dipped in the River Styx or later struck — that spot was his only weakness. In this sentence the allusion means that ice cream is Antony’s one personal weakness or vulnerability: despite his decision to quit junk food, he can’t resist ice cream. A plain paraphrase: “Antony tried to stop eating junk food, but he still couldn’t give up ice cream.”