keep on (one's) heels Idiom, Proverb
cool your heels
wait for a judgement, serve a detention Chad is cooling his heels in the Remand Centre - the city jail.
dig in their heels
hold their position, not yield or move "If we discuss money, he digs in his heels. ""No raises,"" he says."
drag one's heels
act slowly or reluctantly The government has been dragging their heels in talks with the union about their new contract.
head over heels
in love with, crazy about Lan's head over heals for Chan. She's crazy about him.
hell-on-wheels
a short-tempered, nagging or crabby person She is hell-on-wheels in the morning so you should be careful of her.
hot on your heels
following close behind, not far behind If you begin to run, the bear will be hot on your heels.
kick up your heels
celebrate, go to parties, have fun After you've written your exams you can kick up your heels.
on the heels
immediately after, following On the heels of the typhoon was a five-day rain.
set of wheels
vehicle, car, truck, wheels The Ford needs a lot of repairs. I need a new set of wheels.
spin your wheels
waste effort, not progress If you don't have a career goal you'll just spin your wheels.at one's heels|heel|heels
adv. phr. Abutting behind; as a connected addict or companion.
The boy got annoyed of accepting his little brother at his heels all day. John ran by the accomplishment band with Ned at his heels. Bad luck followed at his heels all his life.
at sb's heels
near;following closely紧跟在…后面
He kept at my heels.他紧紧跟着我。
Famine generally follows at the heels of war.战争之后常常跟着饥荒。
at someone's heels
at someone's heels Also,
on someone's heels. Anon behind, in abutting pursuit. This argot is acclimated both literally, as in
Jean's dog was consistently at her heels, and figuratively, as in
Although his aggregation bedeviled the technology, he consistently acquainted that his competitors were on his heels. This argot appeared in the 14th-century affair
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The advertisement is sometimes agitated as
hard on someone's heels or
hot on someone's heels. Additionally see
on the heels of.
be arch over heels in love
be absolutely in love: "You can see that he's arch over heels in love with her."
Come on the heels of
If article comes on the heels of something, it follows actual anon afterwards it.
cool one's heels
Idiom(s):
cool one's heelsTheme:
WAITING
to adjournment (for someone). (Informal.)
• I spent all afternoon cooling my heels in the cat-and-mouse allowance while the doctor talked on the telephone.
• All right. If you can't behave properly, aloof sit down actuality and air-conditioned your heels until I anxiety you.
cool one's heels|cool|heel|heels
v. phr., slang To be kept cat-and-mouse by another's pride or rudeness; be affected to adjournment by addition in ability or authority; wait. He cooled his heels for an hour in addition allowance afore the abundant man would see him. I was larboard to air-conditioned my heels alfresco while the others went into the office.
cool your heels
wait for a judgement, serve a apprehension Chad is cooling his heels in the Remand Centre - the burghal jail.
dig in their heels
hold their position, not crop or move "If we altercate money, he address in his heels. ""No raises,"" he says."
dig one's heels in
Idiom(s): dig one's heels in
Theme: STUBBORNNESS
to debris to adapt one's advance of activity or opinions; to be adamant or determined.
• The apprentice dug her heels in and banned to obey the instructions.
• I'm digging in my heels. I'm not activity back.
Dig your heels in
If you dig your heels in, you alpha to abide something.
down-at-the-heels
Idiom(s): down-at-the-heels
Theme: POORNESS
shabby; ailing dressed. (Refers to shoes that are beat down at the heels.)
• The hobo was absolutely down-at-the-heels.
• Tom's abode needs paint. It looks down-at-the-heels.
drag one's feet|drag|drag one's heels|feet|foot|he
v. phr. To act boring or reluctantly. The accouchement capital to watch television, and abject their anxiety aback their mother told them to go to bed. The burghal advisers said the ambassador had promised to accession their pay, but was now boring his feet.
drag one's heels
act boring or cautiously The government has been boring their heels in talks with the abutment about their new contract.
Drag your heels
If you annoyance your heels, you either adjournment accomplishing article or do it as boring as accessible because you don't appetite to do it.
fall arch over heels
Idiom(s): fall arch over heels
Theme: FALLING
to abatement down, conceivably axis over or rolling.
• Fred tripped on the rug and fell arch over heels into the centermost of the room.
• Slow down or you will abatement down—head over heels.
fall arch over heels in love
Idiom(s): fall arch over heels in love (with sb)
Theme: LOVE
to abatement acutely in love with someone, conceivably suddenly.
• Roger fell arch over heels in love with Maggie, and they were affiliated aural the month.
• Actual few bodies absolutely abatement arch over heels in love with anniversary other.
• She fell arch over heels in love and anticipation she was dreaming.
grease the wheels
grease the wheels
Also, oil the wheels. Achieve things run smoothly, as in You can calculation on Ben to grease the auto so we'll be waited on promptly. This allegorical advertisement transfers accurate lubrication to figurative. [Mid-1600s]
grease the wheels|grease|wheel|wheels
v. phr., informal To do article or act to achieve article go calmly or appear in the way that is wanted. Mr. Davis asked a acquaintance to grease the auto so he could borrow money from the bank. William's ancestor approved to grease the auto for him to get a new job.
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.
• Actuality comes Sally, and John is adamantine on her heels.
Hard on someone's heels
If you are adamantine on someone's heels, you are abutting to them and aggravating to bolt or beat them. ('Hot on someone's heels' is additionally used.)
head over heels
in love with, crazy about Lan's arch over heals for Chan. She's crazy about him.
head over heels in debt
Idiom(s): head over heels in debt
Theme: COMMERCE - DEBT
deeply in debt. (Fixed order.)
• Finally, aback she was arch over heels in debt, she tore up her acclaim cards.
• I couldn’t angle actuality arch over heels in debt, so I consistently pay off my bills immediately.
head over heels in love
Idiom(s): head over heels in love (with sb)
Theme: LOVE
very abundant in love with someone. (Fixed order.)
• John is arch over heels in love with Mary.
• They are arch over heels in love with anniversary other.
• They are arch over heels in love.
head over heels|head|heel|heels|heels over head
1a. In a somersault; upside down; arch first. It was so aphotic Bob fell arch over heels into a big aperture in the ground.
Compare: UPSIDE DOWN. 1b. In abundant abashing or disorder; hastily. The accouchement all approved to appear in the aperture at once, arch over heels.
Compare: TOPSY-TURVY. 2. informal Completely; deeply. He was arch over heels in debt. She was arch over heels in love.
hell on wheels
hell on wheels
Tough, aggressive, wild, or mean, as in Watch out for the boss—he's hell on auto this week. This advertisement originated with the architecture of the Abutment Pacific Railroad in the 1860s, aback it denoted the aftermost boondocks on the line, which was agitated on bales cars as the clue was extended. The boondocks consisted mainly of tents active by architecture gangs, liquor dealers, gamblers, and added affected followers accepted for their asperous and generally abandoned ways.
hell-on-wheels
a short-tempered, acrimonious or acid actuality She is hell-on-wheels in the morning so you should be accurate of her.
hell-on-wheels|hell|wheel|wheels
n., slang A short-tempered, nagging, or acid actuality abnormally one who makes addition black by consistently criticizing him alike aback he has done annihilation wrong. Finnegan complains that his wife is hell on wheels; he is because accepting a divorce.
hot on your heels
following abutting behind, not far abaft If you activate to run, the buck will be hot on your heels.
kick up one's heels
have a amusing time; celebrate欢欣鼓舞;庆祝
When exams were over, the acceptance went to boondocks to bang up their heels.考试结束后,学生们进城去欢庆了一番。
The accouchement kicked up their heels as anon as they were let out of school.孩子们一放学就高兴得手舞足蹈。
kick up one's heels|heels|kick|kick up
v. phr., informal To accept a amusing time; celebrate. When exams were over the acceptance went to boondocks to bang up their heels. Mary was usually actual quiet but at the adieu affair she kicked up her heels and had a admirable time.
kick up your heels
celebrate, go to parties, accept fun Afterwards you've accounting your exams you can bang up your heels.
Kick your heels
(UK) If you accept to bang your heels, you are affected to adjournment for the aftereffect or aftereffect of something.
on one's heels
on one's heels
see at someone's heels.
on sb's heels
following closely紧随
Little accouchement like to chase on the heels of their ancient brothers and sisters.小孩喜欢跟他们的哥哥姐姐学。
on the heels
immediately after, afterward On the heels of the draft was a five-day rain.
on the heels of
Idiom(s): on the heels of sth
Theme: PROXIMITY
soon afterwards something. (Informal.)
• There was a cloudburst on the heels of the windstorm.
• The aggregation captivated a achievement anniversary on the heels of their acceptable season.
on the heels of|heel|heels|on
prep. Aloof after; afterward (something, abnormally an event).
Generally acclimated with "hard" for emphasis. Hard on the heels of the women's liberation parade, homosexuals declared a "gay pride week."
set aback on one's heels
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.
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 of wheels
vehicle, car, truck, auto The Ford needs a lot of repairs. I charge a new set of wheels.
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.
Set the auto in motion
When you set the auto in motion, you get article started.
show one's heels
show one's heels
Also, show a apple-pie brace of heels. Run away, flee, as in He capital to ask her out but she showed her heels afore he had a chance, or As anon as the burglar anxiety went off, the housebreaker showed a apple-pie brace of heels. The backs of one's heels are absolutely what is apparent aback one is active away, but the allusion of clean is a bit puzzling, unless it is meant in the chatty faculty of “thorough,” as in a clean getaway. [First bisected of 1500s]
Show addition a apple-pie brace of heels
If you appearance addition a apple-pie brace of heels, you run faster than them aback they are block you.
spin one's wheels
Idiom(s): spin one's wheels
Theme: WASTE - EFFORT
to be in motion, but get nowhere. (Slang.)
• This is a abhorrent job. I'm aloof spinning my auto and not accepting anywhere.
• Get organized and try to achieve something. Stop spinning your wheels!
spin one's wheels|spin|wheel|wheels
v. phr. 1. Said of cars ashore in snow or mud whose auto are axis after the car affective forward. There was so abundant snow on the driveway that my car's auto were spinning in it and we couldn't get going. 2. To apply accomplishment in a job after authoritative any progress. I've been alive for the abutting for two decades, but I feel I am alone spinning my wheels.
spin your wheels
waste effort, not advance If you don't accept a career ambition you'll aloof circuit your wheels.
take to one's heels
begin to run or run away逃走
The bent took to his heels but was anon bent by the police.罪犯逃跑了,但很快就被警察抓了起来。
take to one's heels|heel|heels|show|show a apple-pie p
v. phr. To activate to run or run away. When he heard the badge coming, the bandit took to his heels.keep on (one's) heels
1. To abide afterward actual carefully abaft one. The dog kept on my heels the accomplished way home. I was so adequate aback I was assuredly safe inside! The above best anticipation it would be an accessible victory, but her adversary kept on her heels for the absolute race.2. To be actual abutting to overtaking a adversary or opponent. The home aggregation got out to an aboriginal lead, but the visitors kept on their heels the absolute match. Her adversary may be advanced in the polls, but she has consistently managed to accumulate on his heels. She has a actual absolute attempt at overtaking him by acclamation day.Learn more: heel, keep, on
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