Flimsy evidence, weak basis for believing something, i.e., "The prosecution has built its case upon a frail reed." The origin seems to be unknown. The exact phrase doesn't appear in the King James version of The Bible, but there is a similar usage in 2 Kings 18:21:
"Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him."
Bruised, in this context, would mean weak or frail, i.e., a frail reed used as a walking stick would splinter and pierce the user's hand. Some common phrases derived from the Bible and other ancient sources have gradually changed from the original. "Frail reed "may be such a phrase.
I must admit: The case for a biblical origin rests upon a frail reed.
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∙ 11y agoUnbrakeable with Bruce Willis, and Samule Jackson was the one with frail bones
Sully Reed goes by Sully Reed.
Nikki Reed, plays rosalie
raquel reed is in a relationship.
Hal Reed died on October 22, 2010, in Los Angeles, California, USA.
This trail is not for the frail. She was too frail to be moved. She was so frail that she fell.
You are not strong, very Frail! That is how you can use it.
He was very frail, frail meaning weak.
My Grammy has turned a bit frail because of her age.
Joe Frail was born in 1869.
Frail - song - was created in 1987.
Frail Women was created in 1932.
Frail-weak Sick-ill
yellow fellow, shy guy
Frail as Breath was created in 2005-09.
There is one syllable in the word frail
Joe Frail died on 1939-09-04.