fatal flaw

См. также в других словарях:

• fatal flaw — /feɪtl ˈflɔ/ (say faytl flaw) noun 1. (in literature) the weakness in a character which is the cause of his or her ultimate downfall. 2. such a weakness in a real person leading to their downfall. {ultimately derived from the notion of hamartia… …  

• fatal — fatal, fateful Both words have to do with the workings of fate, and their complex histories, fully explored by the OED, have often intertwined. Fowler (1926) wrote a fond defence of the special meaning of fateful, ‘having far reaching… …   Modern English usage

• flaw — [ flɔ ] noun count a mistake or fault in something that makes it useless or less effective: There are serious flaws in the way we train our teachers. fatal flaw (=that makes something completely useless or wrong): What you ve just said is the… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

• flaw — [flɔː ǁ flɒː] noun [countable] 1. a mistake or weakness in a machine, system etc that prevents it from working correctly: flaw in • The drought exposed a serious flaw in the dam. • Investigators believe that a design flaw (= mistake or weakness… …   Financial and business terms

• flaw — [flo: US flo:] n [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: Perhaps from Old Norse flaga flat stone ; FLAG1] 1.) a mistake, mark, or weakness that makes something imperfect = ↑defect flaw in ▪ a flaw in the software serious/major/basic/minor etc flaw …   Dictionary of contemporary English

• fatal — fa·tal adj 1: causing failure of a legal claim or cause of action a fatal defect in the proceedings W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel 2: making something (as a contract) invalid or unenforceable there is a fatal indefiniteness with the result that… …   Law dictionary

• fatal — adjective 1 resulting in someone s death: Meningitis is a serious illness, fatal in some cases. | fatal accident/illness/injury etc: a fatal climbing accident | prove fatal (=be fatal): If it is not treated correctly, the condition can prove… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

• flaw — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ big, main, major, serious ▪ basic, critical, fatal, fundamental ▪ inherent …   Collocations dictionary

• flaw — n. 1) a fatal flaw 2) a flaw in (there s a flaw in your reasoning) * * * [flɔː] a fatal flaw a flaw in (there s a flaw in your reasoning) …   Combinatory dictionary

• flaw — UK [flɔː] / US [flɔ] noun [countable] Word forms flaw : singular flaw plural flaws a mistake or fault in something that makes it useless or less effective There are serious flaws in the way we train our teachers. fatal flaw (= that makes… …   English dictionary

• fatal — fa|tal [ feıtl ] adjective ** 1. ) causing someone to die: a fatal accident/injury/disease etc.: a fatal road accident prove fatal (=cause death): In the nineteenth century childbirth often proved fatal. 2. ) with very serious negative effects:… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English