Are there figurative English proverbs (or idioms) to mean an expert (or likely winner) makes a great mistake?

Question

The latest news that Serena Williams lost the semi-final round of U.S. Open to an unseeded Italian player, Roberta Vinci, whom Williams had never lost in the past reminded me of Japanese proverb, 'Jouzu-no tekara mizu ga ochiru,' of which literal translation is ‘Water leaks even from expert's hands,’ meaning even a perfect expert makes a mistake, or loses chances, which can be never retreived like shed water.

We have several proverbs in the same token such as 'Kobo mo fudeno ayamachi' – Even Kobo (774 -835), a Japanese Buddhist saint known for a master of calligraphy makes a mistakes of stroke, and 'Sarumo kikara ochiru' meaning “even a monkey (who should be a master of tree climbing and hopping around branches) falls from a tree.”

Are there English proverbs or idioms that figuratively describe that an expert or perfect player makes a great mistake sometimes?

Answer 1

There are a couple of classical references: Homer nods, or Even Jove nods (formerly well-known, as in this Kipling quote; but nobody seems certain whether there is a Latin original, or somebody just 'upgraded' the reference).

Answer 2

"She's only human" is a common phrase used to remind one that no matter how great the person's achievements, they are, after all, only a human being with the occasional same set of flaws and frailties as the rest of our species.

Answer 3

I suggest the following sayings which, though not figurative, are close in meaning to what you are referring to:

We all make mistakes:

• used for telling someone not to worry about something that they have done wrong.

(www.macmillandictionary.com)

and nobody's perfect:

• Used when someone's mistakes or flaws are acknowledged, to remind that everyone else makes mistakes and has flaws.

(Wiktionary)

Answer 4

'Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory' is an ionic reversal of an older idiom.

(idiomatic) To suddenly lose a contest one seemed very likely to win, especially through mistakes or bad judgment.

Answer 5

"Achilles heel," perhaps?

Wikipedia defines it as "a weakness in spite of overall strength, which can actually or potentially lead to downfall."

In Greek mythology, when Achilles was a baby, it was foretold that he would die young. To prevent his death, his mother Thetis took Achilles to the River Styx, which was supposed to offer powers of invulnerability, and dipped his body into the water. But as Thetis held Achilles by the heel, his heel was not washed over by the water of the magical river. Achilles grew up to be a man of war who survived many great battles. But one day, a poisonous arrow shot at him was lodged in his heel, killing him shortly after.

So Achilles was greatly powerful (an "expert" in this sense), but he had a single weakness which led to his demise.

Answer 6

Not exact but related idiom is the bigger they are, the harder they fall

When prominent people fail, their failure is more dramatic. After the newspapers reported that the mayor cheated on his wife, he lost the election and he can't get any kind of job. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Jackson used to be very wealthy, but he lost every cent in the stock market crash. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Answer 7

All glory is fleeting and on any given Sunday even the best can “meet their match.”

To [finally] meet one's/your match (from The Free Dictionary):

Fig. to meet one's equal; to encounter someone who can match or outdo one in some activity, talent, etc.

John played tennis with Bill yesterday, and it looks as if John has finally met his match.

Listen to Jane and Mary argue. I always thought that Jane was loud, but she has finally met her match.

to meet someone who is able to defeat you in an argument or a competition

The world chess champion finally met his match when he was beaten by a computer.

Answer 8

I like to use "found a chink in her armor". "The idiom "chink in one's armor" refers to an area of vulnerability. It has traditionally been used to refer to a weak spot in a figurative suit of armor." This more so refers to the other person finding a weakness, rather then the expert making a mistake. However, I guess if the opponent found a weakness, then that would be as a result of the expert making a slip up. I would be interested if anyone has any feedback on this.

Answer 9

When an expert or sports professional allows ones nerves to get the best of him/her and unsettle his normally superior play, that is what you call choking.