Heels

Дата публикации: Aug 30, 2016 6:36:20 AM

heel noun BrE /hiːl/ ; NAmE /hiːl/

part of foot

1. [countable] the back part of the foot below the ankle

part of sock/shoe

2. [countable] the part of a sock, etc. that covers the heel

3. [countable] the raised part on the bottom of a shoe, boot, etc. that makes the shoe, etc. higher at the back

shoes with a low/high heel

a stiletto heel

The sergeant clicked his heels and walked out.

compare sole

-heeled

4. (in adjectives) having the type of heel mentioned

high-heeled shoes

see also Achilles heel, down at heel

Extra examples

He rocked back and forth on his heels as he laughed.

He turned on his heel and marched away angrily.

I took my shoes to a heel bar to have them repaired.

She came up the path with two little dogs at her heels.

She caught her heel and tripped on the step.

She took a potato from the fire and sat back on her heels.

The officer clicked his heels together and saluted.

The punch rocked him back on his heels.

They reached the border with the police hot on their heels.

Idioms

at/on somebody’s heels - following closely behind somebody

He fled from the stadium with the police at his heels.

bring somebody/something to heel

1. to force somebody to obey you and accept discipline

a non-violent means of bringing the rebels to heel

2. to make a dog come close to you

come to heel

(of a person) to agree to obey somebody and accept their orders

(of a dog) to come close to the person who has called it

cool your heels - (informal) to have to wait for somebody/something

dig your heels/toes in - to refuse to do something or to change your mind about something

They dug in their heels and would not lower the price.

drag your feet/heels - to be deliberately slow in doing something or in making a decision

head over heels in love - loving somebody very much

He's fallen head over heels in love with his boss.

kick your heels

(British English) to have nothing to do while you are waiting for somebody/something

We were kicking our heels, waiting for some customers.

kick up your heels - (informal, especially North American English) to be relaxed and enjoy yourself

(hard/hot) on somebody’s/something’s heels - very close behind somebody/something; very soon after something

News of rising unemployment followed hard on the heels of falling export figures.

He ran ahead, with the others hot on his heels

take to your heels - to run away from somebody/something

tread on somebody’s heels - to follow somebody closely

turn/spin on your heel - to turn around suddenly so that you are facing in the opposite direction

under the heel of somebody - (literary) completely controlled by somebody

The island spent several centuries under the heel of the British Empire.

down at heel adjective - looking less attractive and fashionable than before, usually because of a lack of money

The town has become very down at heel.

a down-at-heel hotel

well heeled adjective - having a lot of money

synonym rich, wealthy

kitten heels noun - small thin curved heels on women’s shoes

Achilles heel noun BrE /əˌkɪliːz ˈhiːl/ ; NAmE /əˌkɪliːz ˈhiːl/ [singular] - a weak point or fault in somebody’s character, which can be attacked by other people

The desire for publicity became her Achilles heel.

The enemy had an Achilles heel somewhere, if only he could find it.