Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

as strong as the weakest link

English answer:

If the weakest link fails, the whole chain is useless

Added to glossary by elsayed fayed
Nov 29, 2009 11:12
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term

as strong as the weakest link

English Other Music
your signal chain is only as strong as the weakest link - cables are an integral part of this link!
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Responses

+14
15 mins
Selected

If the weakest link fails, the whole chain is useless

The signals are carried by various means, but partly via cable. If the cables cause problems, it doesn't matter how good the rest of the system is, it will still be unusable until something is done about the cables.
Peer comment(s):

agree Sheila Wilson
11 mins
Thank you.
agree Derek Gill Franßen
17 mins
Thank you.
agree MPGS : :)
1 hr
Thank you.
agree Sarah Bessioud
1 hr
Thank you.
agree Patricia Townshend (X)
1 hr
Thank you.
agree Jenni Lukac (X)
3 hrs
Thank you.
agree Demi Ebrite
4 hrs
Thank you.
agree Polangmar
5 hrs
Thank you.
agree Rolf Keiser
6 hrs
Thank you.
agree Travelin Ann
7 hrs
Thank you.
agree Liam Hamilton
8 hrs
Thank you.
agree Yasutomo Kanazawa
17 hrs
Thank you.
agree Bernhard Sulzer
1 day 15 hrs
Thank you.
agree Ildiko Santana
1 day 19 hrs
Thank you.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thank you"

Reference comments

32 mins
Reference:

the physics explanation and a useful link

"It's a simple matter of engineering/physics : the stress that a chain is under (when in use) is equally distributed link by link from top to bottom. the entire weight rests upon each 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:
Peer comments on this reference comment:

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 !
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