heel (redirected from take to heels)

heel ¹  (hl)

n.

1.

a. The rounded posterior portion of the human foot under and behind the ankle.

b. The corresponding part of the hind foot of other vertebrates.

c. A similar anatomical part, such as the fleshy rounded base of the human palm or the hind toe of a bird.

2.

a. The part, as of a sock, shoe, or stocking, that covers the rounded posterior portion of the human foot.

b. The built-up portion of a shoe or boot, supporting the heel.

3. One of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread.

4. The lower or rearward part, as:

a. The part of the head of a golf club where it joins the shaft.

b. The end of a violin bow where the handle is located.

5. Nautical

a. The lower end of a mast.

b. The after end of a ship's keel.

6. Botany The basal end of a plant cutting or tuber used in propagation.

7. Oppression; tyranny: under the heel of Stalinism; the heel of an autocrat.

8. Informal A dishonorable man; a cad.

v. heeled, heel·ing, heels

v.tr.

1.

a. To furnish with a heel or heels.

b. To repair or replace the heels, as for shoes.

2. Slang To furnish, especially with money.

3. To arm (a gamecock) with gaffs.

4. To press or strike with the heel: heel a horse.

v.intr.

To follow at one's heels: The dog won't heel.

Idioms:

down at the heels

1. Having one's shoe heels worn down.

2. Shabby; rundown; poor.

lay by the heels

To put in fetters or shackles; imprison.

on/upon the heels of

1. Directly behind.

2. Immediately following.

out at the heel/heels

1. Having holes in one's socks or shoes.

2. Rundown; shabby; seedy.

take to (one's) heels

To run away; flee.

to heel

1. Close behind: The hound followed his master to heel.

2. Under discipline or control: The army swiftly brought the rebels to heel.

---

[Middle English, from Old English hla.]

---

heel ¹

Noun

1. the back part of the foot

2. the part of a stocking or sock designed to fit the heel

3. the part of a shoe supporting the heel

4. Slang a contemptible person

5. at one's heels following closely behind one

6. kick or cool one's heels to be kept waiting

7. down at heel untidy and in poor condition

8. take to one's heels to run off

9. to heel under control, such as a dog walking by a person's heel

Verb

to repair or replace the heel of (a shoe or boot) [Old English hēla]

---

heel ²

Verb

to lean to one side [Old English hieldan]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	heel - the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation boot - footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg Cuban heel - a broad heel of medium height on women's shoes French heel - a fairly high narrow heel on women's shoes lift - one of the layers forming the heel of a shoe or boot shoe - footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material spike heel, stiletto heel, spike - a very high narrow heel on women's shoes stacked heel - a heel made of many layers of leather wedge heel, wedge - a heel that is an extension of the sole of the shoe wineglass heel - a heel on a woman's shoe in the shape of a wineglass bottom, underside, undersurface - the lower side of anything
	2.	heel - the back part of the human foot foot, human foot, pes - the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint; "his bare feet projected from his trousers"; "armored from head to foot" Achilles tendon, tendon of Achilles - a large tendon that runs from the heel to the calf skeletal structure - any structure created by the skeleton of an organism
	3.	heel - someone who is morally reprehensible; "you dirty dog" blackguard, bounder, cad, hound, dog perisher - bounder scoundrel, villain - a wicked or evil person; someone who does evil deliberately
	4.	heel - one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread loaf, loaf of bread - a shaped mass of baked bread that is usually sliced before eating end, terminal - either extremity of something that has length; "the end of the pier"; "she knotted the end of the thread"; "they rode to the end of the line"; "the terminals of the anterior arches of the fornix"
	5.	heel - the lower end of a ship's mast end, terminal - either extremity of something that has length; "the end of the pier"; "she knotted the end of the thread"; "they rode to the end of the line"; "the terminals of the anterior arches of the fornix"
	6.	heel - (golf) the part of the clubhead where it joins the shaft golf, golf game - a game played on a large open course with 9 or 18 holes; the object is use as few strokes as possible in playing all the holes club head, club-head, clubhead, golf-club head - (golf) the head of the club which strikes the ball part, portion - something less than the whole of a human artifact; "the rear part of the house"; "glue the two parts together"
Verb	1.	heel - tilt to one side; "The balloon heeled over"; "the wind made the vessel heel"; "The ship listed to starboard" list lean, tilt, angle, slant, tip - to incline or bend from a vertical position; "She leaned over the banister" list, lean - cause to lean to the side; "Erosion listed the old tree"
	2.	heel - follow at the heels of a person travel along, follow - travel along a certain course; "follow the road"; "follow the trail"
	3.	heel - perform with the heels; "heel that dance" dancing, terpsichore, dance, saltation - taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music dance - an artistic form of nonverbal communication trip the light fantastic, trip the light fantastic toe, dance - move in a pattern; usually to musical accompaniment; do or perform a dance; "My husband and I like to dance at home to the radio"
	4.	heel - strike with the heel of the club; "heel a golf ball" golf, golf game - a game played on a large open course with 9 or 18 holes; the object is use as few strokes as possible in playing all the holes hit - cause to move by striking; "hit a ball"
	5.	heel - put a new heel on; "heel shoes" reheel fix, furbish up, mend, repair, bushel, doctor, touch on, restore - restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken; "She repaired her TV set"; "Repair my shoes please"

---

heel

noun 1. end, stump, remainder, crust, rump, stub

noun 2. (Slang) swine, cad Brit. (informal) scoundrel, scally Northwest English (dialect) bounder Brit. (old-fashioned), (slang) rotter (slang), chiefly Brit. scumbag (slang) blackguard, wrong 'un Austral. (slang) take to your heels flee, escape, run away or off, take flight, hook it (slang) turn tail, show a clean pair of heels, skedaddle (informal) vamoose (slang), chiefly U.S.

Translations

heel [hiːl] n → talón m

vt [+ shoe] → poner tacón a;

to take to one's heels (col) → poner pies en polvorosa;

to bring to heel → meter en cintura see also dig

---

heel [hiːl] n → talon m

vt [+ shoe] → retalonner;

to bring to heel [+ dog] → faire venir à ses pieds (fig) [+ person]; rappeler à l'ordre;

to take to one's heels → prendre ses jambes à son cou

---

heel [hiːl] n → Ferse f;

(of shoe) → Absatz m

vt (shoe) → mit einem neuen Absatz versehen;

to bring to heel (dog) → bei Fuß gehen lassen (fig) (person) → an die Kandare nehmen;

to take to one's heels (inf) → sich aus dem Staub machen

---

heel [hiːl] n (ANAT) → calcagno; [of shoe] → tacco

vt [+ shoe] → rifare i tacchi a;

to bring to heel → addomesticare;

to take to one's heels (col) → darsela a gambe, alzare i tacchi