This fellow has clearly proved a broken reed.

这家伙显然是一根断了的芦苇。

There was general agreement that there should be an executive branch; for reliance upon Congress to enforce its own laws and treaties had been a broken reed.

——人们普遍认为应该有一个行政部门；因为依靠国会来执行自己的法律和条约是一根断了的芦苇。