Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
as strong as the weakest link
English answer:
If the weakest link fails, the whole chain is useless
English term
as strong as the weakest link
4 +14 | If the weakest link fails, the whole chain is useless | Jack Doughty |
Non-PRO (1): Jim Tucker (X)
When entering new questions, KudoZ askers are given an opportunity* to classify the difficulty of their questions as 'easy' or 'pro'. If you feel a question marked 'easy' should actually be marked 'pro', and if you have earned more than 20 KudoZ points, you can click the "Vote PRO" button to recommend that change.
How to tell the difference between "easy" and "pro" questions:
An easy question is one that any bilingual person would be able to answer correctly. (Or in the case of monolingual questions, an easy question is one that any native speaker of the language would be able to answer correctly.)
A pro question is anything else... in other words, any question that requires knowledge or skills that are specialized (even slightly).
Another way to think of the difficulty levels is this: an easy question is one that deals with everyday conversation. A pro question is anything else.
When deciding between easy and pro, err on the side of pro. Most questions will be pro.
* Note: non-member askers are not given the option of entering 'pro' questions; the only way for their questions to be classified as 'pro' is for a ProZ.com member or members to re-classify it.
Responses
If the weakest link fails, the whole chain is useless
Reference comments
the physics explanation and a useful link
and so if one link is made of inferior or flawed metal, then when the strain is placed upon the chain, that link will fail and so as the chain is serial, the chain will fail"
In some circumstances, a weakness of part can be compensated for by other elements - in a chain, as each element is subject to the same forces, then the part least able to cope with that force determines the breaking point. you could compare it with fibres in a rope, where weakness of one part would not cause critical failure".
It is an adage about serial (not parallel) processes, where there is no duplication of roles."
Quote taken from the following link:
agree |
Derek Gill Franßen
: Cool! :)
1 min
|
Thanks, Derek !
|
|
agree |
MPGS
: most appropriate :)
50 mins
|
Thanks, MPGS !
|
|
agree |
Patricia Townshend (X)
59 mins
|
Thanks, Patricia !
|
|
agree |
Polangmar
5 hrs
|
Thanks, Polangmar !
|
|
agree |
Bernhard Sulzer
1 day 15 hrs
|
Thanks, Bernhard !
|
|
agree |
Ildiko Santana
1 day 19 hrs
|
Thanks, ildiko !
|
Something went wrong...