to surprise, shock, or overwhelm someone. • Her sudden announcement set us all back on our heels. • The manager scolded me, and that really set me back on my heels.
hard on one's heels
Idiom(s): hard on one's heels
Theme: PROXIMITY
following someone very closely; following very closely to someone's heels. (Informal.) • I ran as fast as I could, but the dog was still hard on my heels. • Here comes Sally, and John is hard on her heels.
set back on one's heels|heel|heels|knock back on o
v. phr., informal To give an unpleasant surprise; upset suddenly; stop or turn back (someone's) progress. Jack brags too much and it set him back on his heels when the coach told him he wasn't as good a player as he thought he was.Jean was doing very well in school until sickness knocked her back on her heels. Compare: KNOCK FOR A LOOP, THROW FOR A LOSS.
set back on one's heels Surprise, shock, or disconcert, as in The news of their divorce set us back on our heels. This idiom, with its graphic image of someone being pushed back, dates from the first half of the 1900s.
set one aback on one's heels
Idiom(s): set one aback on one's heels
Theme: SURPRISE
to surprise, shock, or beat someone. • Her abrupt advertisement set us all aback on our heels. • The administrator scolded me, and that absolutely set me aback on my heels.
hard on one's heels
Idiom(s): hard on one's heels
Theme: PROXIMITY
following addition actual closely; afterward actual carefully to someone's heels. (Informal.) • I ran as fast as I could, but the dog was still adamantine on my heels. • Here comes Sally, and John is adamantine on her heels.
set aback on one's heels|heel|heels|knock aback on o
v. phr., informal To accord an abhorrent surprise; agitated suddenly; stop or about-face aback (someone's) progress. Jack brags too abundant and it set him aback on his heels aback the drillmaster told him he wasn't as acceptable a amateur as he anticipation he was.Jean was accomplishing actual able-bodied in academy until affection agape her aback on her heels. Compare: KNOCK FOR A LOOP, THROW FOR A LOSS.
set aback on one's heels Surprise, shock, or disconcert, as in The account of their annulment set us aback on our heels. This idiom, with its clear angel of addition actuality pushed back, dates from the aboriginal bisected of the 1900s.
on (one's) heels
1. (Following) actual abutting abaft one, generally agilely and to one's annoyance. I'm a preschool teacher, so I've had toddlers on my heels all day.The autogenous artist can't get any assignment done with your puppy on her heels!2. Abutting to overtaking a adolescent competitor. The arch applicant should be anxious about the underdog on his heels.If she does ailing on this exam, she may lose the appellation of valedictorian to one of the acceptance on her heels.Learn more: heel, on
*on someone's heels
Fig. afterward addition actual closely; afterward actual carefully at someone's heels. (*Typically: adamantine ~; hot ~; appropriate ~. Learn added on someone's tail.) I ran as fast as I could, but the dog was still adamantine on my heels.Here comes Sally, and John is hot on her heels.Learn more: heel, on
at/on somebody’s ˈheels
afterward carefully abaft somebody: Every day she walks accomplished my house, with her little atramentous dog at her heels.Learn more: heel, onLearn more:
An on one's heels idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with on one's heels, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
Словарь похожих слов, Разные формулировки, Синонимы, Идиомы для Идиома on one's heels