weak underbelly

weak underbelly

The part or portion of some group, organization, society, etc., that is the most vulnerable to attack, disruption, or failure. A reference to the underside of animals that have protective shells or spines on the back portions of their bodies. This crisis has exposed the weak underbelly of our government, which has clearly failed to put in place vital infrastructures at every level. The recent surge in espionage claims is revealing something of a weak underbelly of what has always been a delicate truce between the two countries.

See also: underbelly, weak

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.