К-208

КОЛОСС НА ГЛИНЯНЫХ НОГАХ lit NP fixed WO

(often of a country) sth. that appears mighty, invincible, but is in fact weak and can be easily destroyed

colossus with feet of clay.

В парламентских кулуарах говорили о лапландской руде, о «колоссе на глиняных ногах», о сочувствии Рима. Депутаты приехали, чтобы убедиться в солидности линии Мажино... (Эренбург 4). In the parliamentary lobbies there was a good deal of talk about the ore in Lapland, the "colossus with feet of clay," and the sympathy of Rome. The deputies were visiting the front to reassure themselves as to the solidity of the Maginot Line (4a)

From the Biblical account of the image seen in a dream by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and interpreted as a symbol of Babylon and its future destruction (Dan. 2:31-45).