Idioms for heel

Origin of heel

1
before 850; Middle English; Old English hēl(a); cognate with Dutch hiel, Old Norse hǣll. See hock1

OTHER WORDS FROM heel

heel·less, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH heel

heal heel he'll

British Dictionary definitions for cool one's heels (1 of 2)

heel 1
/ (hiːl) /

noun

verb

Derived forms of heel

heelless, adjective

Word Origin for heel

Old English hēla; related to Old Norse hǣll, Old Frisian hêl

British Dictionary definitions for cool one's heels (2 of 2)

heel 2
/ (hiːl) /

verb

(of a vessel) to lean over; list

noun

inclined position from the vertical the boat is at ten degrees of heel

Word Origin for heel

Old English hieldan; related to Old Norse hallr inclined, Old High German helden to bow

Medical definitions for cool one's heels

heel
[ hēl ]

n.

The rounded posterior portion of the foot under and behind the ankle.
A similar anatomical part, such as the rounded base of the palm.

Cultural definitions for cool one's heels

cool one's heels

To wait for a long time: “The doctor kept her cooling her heels for almost an hour.”

Idioms and Phrases with cool one's heels (1 of 2)

cool one's heels

Wait or be kept waiting, as in I've been cooling my heels in the doctor's waiting room for at least an hour. This term originally meant to cool one's feet when they become hot from walking, and began to be used ironically for being forced to rest (or wait) in the early 1600s.

Idioms and Phrases with cool one's heels (2 of 2)

heel

see Achilles' heel; at someone's heels; bring to heel; cool one's heels; dig in (one's heels); drag one's feet (heels); head over heels; kick up one's heels; on the heels of; out at the elbows (heels); set back on one's heels; show one's heels; take to one's heels; to heel; turn on one's heel.