heel (heels plural )
1 n-count Your heel is the back part of your foot, just below your ankle.
2 n-count The heel of a shoe is the raised part on the bottom at the back.
...the shoes with the high heels.
3 n-plural Heels are women's shoes that are raised very high at the back.
...two well-dressed ladies in high heels..., ...the old adage that you shouldn't wear heels with trousers.
4 n-count The heel of a sock or stocking is the part that covers your heel.
5 n-count The heel of your hand is the rounded pad at the bottom of your palm.
N of n
7 If you bring someone to heel, you force them to obey you.
bring sb to heel phrase V inflects
It's still not clear how the president will use his power to bring the republics to heel.
8 If you dig your heels in or dig in your heels, you refuse to do something such as change your opinions or plans, especially when someone is trying very hard to make you do so.
dig one's heels in phrase V inflects
It was really the British who, by digging their heels in, prevented any last-minute deal.
9 If you say that one event follows hard on the heels of another or hot on the heels of another, you mean that one happens very quickly or immediately after another.
hard on the heels of/hot on the heels of phrase PHR after v, PHR n
Unfortunately, bad news has come hard on the heels of good...
10 If you say that someone is hot on your heels, you are emphasizing that they are chasing you and are not very far behind you.
hot on sb's heels phrase usu v-link PHR (emphasis)
They sped through the American southwest with the law hot on their heels.
11 If you are kicking your heels, you are having to wait around with nothing to do, so that you get bored or impatient.
(BRIT)
INFORMAL
kick one's heels phrase V inflects
The authorities wouldn't grant us permission to fly all the way down to San Francisco, so I had to kick my heels at Tunis Airport.
12 If you turn on your heel or spin on your heel, you suddenly turn round, especially because you are angry or surprised.
on one's heel phrase V inflects
He simply turned on his heel and walked away.
13 →
head over heels →
head →
to drag your heels →
drag
Achilles heel
Someone's Achilles heel is the weakest point in their character or nature, where it is easiest for other people to attack or criticize them. n-sing usu poss N
Horton's Achilles heel was that he could not delegate.
down-at-heel , down at heel
Something that is down-at-heel is in a in bad condition because it has been used too much or has not been looked after properly. If you say that someone is down-at-heel, you mean that they are wearing old, worn clothes because they have little money. adj usu ADJ n
(=shabby)
...a down-at-heel disco in central East Berlin., ...a down-at-heel waitress in a greasy New York diner.
