heel
heel /h'iːl/ (heels)
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] N of n
The heel of your hand is the rounded pad at the bottom of your palm.
6
see also Achilles heel
7 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you bring someone to heel, you force them to obey you.
It's still not clear how the president will use his power to bring the republics to heel.
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
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.
It was really the British who, by digging their heels in, prevented any last-minute deal.
9 [PHRASE] PHR after v, PHR n
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.
Unfortunately, bad news has come hard on the heels of good...
10 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
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.
They sped through the American southwest with the law hot on their heels.
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
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)
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 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you turn on your heel or spin on your heel, you suddenly turn round, especially because you are angry or surprised.
He simply turned on his heel and walked away.
13
head over heels: see head
to drag your heels: see dragAchilles heel /ək'ɪliːz h'iːl/
[N-SING] usu poss N
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.
Horton's Achilles heel was that he could not delegate.
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] N of n
The heel of your hand is the rounded pad at the bottom of your palm.
6
see also Achilles heel
7 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you bring someone to heel, you force them to obey you.
It's still not clear how the president will use his power to bring the republics to heel.
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
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.
It was really the British who, by digging their heels in, prevented any last-minute deal.
9 [PHRASE] PHR after v, PHR n
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.
Unfortunately, bad news has come hard on the heels of good...
10 [PHRASE] usu v-link PHR
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.
They sped through the American southwest with the law hot on their heels.
11 [PHRASE] V inflects
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)
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 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you turn on your heel or spin on your heel, you suddenly turn round, especially because you are angry or surprised.
He simply turned on his heel and walked away.
13
head over heels: see head
to drag your heels: see dragAchilles heel /ək'ɪliːz h'iːl/
[N-SING] usu poss N
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.
Horton's Achilles heel was that he could not delegate.