Heel Anatomy & Meanings

Cards · 50

Heel (anatomy: back of the human foot)

He stepped on a sharp thorn and bruised his heel. She rubbed her sore heel after walking miles in stiff boots.

Heel (footwear: raised back part of a shoe)

The wooden heel of her boot snapped on the cobblestones. He prefers flat running shoes with very little heel.

Heel (footwear: high-heeled shoes)

She wore red heels to the gala. Walking across the lawn in heels proved difficult as they kept sinking.

Heel (sock or stocking part covering the heel)

There is a large hole worn through the heel of this sock. She knitted reinforced heels to make the socks last.

Heel (crusty end of a bread loaf)

Nobody wanted the dry heel of the sourdough loaf. He toasted the heel of the rye bread and buttered it.

Heel (dog training command: walk beside handler)

She ordered the golden retriever to heel as a jogger passed. The puppy learned to heel without pulling on the leash.

Heel (verb: dog walking closely beside handler)

The police dog heels obediently beside the officer. Make sure your terrier heels when approaching busy traffic.

Heel (nautical verb: lean or tilt to one side)

A sudden gust caused the sailboat to heel sharply to starboard. The dinghy heeled over so far that water poured in.

Heel (wrestling/theater: villain or bad guy)

The wrestler became an overnight sensation after turning heel. The crowd booed loudly as the charismatic heel entered the ring.

Heel (slang: contemptible or dishonourable person)

He felt like a complete heel for forgetting his anniversary. Only a heartless heel would abandon a loyal friend in need.

Heel (botany: base of a plant cutting)

Take a cutting with a heel of older wood attached. The rose cutting rooted well because the heel remained intact.

Achilles' heel (vulnerable or weak spot)

Math was always his Achilles' heel during high school exams. Poor cybersecurity turned out to be the company's Achilles' heel.

At heel / close at heel (following very closely behind)

The faithful sheepdog trotted at heel all through the hills. Bad luck seemed to follow at heel wherever he traveled.

Bring to heel (force into submission or obedience)

The prime minister used party discipline to bring rebels to heel. Authorities acted quickly to bring rogue corporations to heel.

Come to heel (submit to discipline or obey orders)

The unruly ministers finally came to heel after the ultimatum. Reluctant coalition members came to heel before the crucial vote.

Dig one's heels in (refuse stubbornly to compromise)

The union dug its heels in over pension reforms. Despite public outcry, the mayor dug his heels in on the policy.

Hard on the heels of (following directly after)

A second crisis arrived hard on the heels of the first flood. Promotion came hard on the heels of her outstanding presentation.

Hot on the heels of (closely pursuing or following soon after)

The detective followed hot on the heels of the fleeing suspect. The album release comes hot on the heels of a massive hit single.

Kick up one's heels (celebrate or enjoy oneself freely)

The graduates went downtown to kick up their heels. After months of grueling work, she wanted to kick up her heels on vacation.

Show a clean pair of heels (run away rapidly to escape)

The nimble striker showed the defenders a clean pair of heels. The thief showed the guards a clean pair of heels and vanished.

Take to one's heels (flee or run away)

Seeing the police car arrive, the vandals took to their heels. The deer took to its heels the moment a twig snapped.

Down at heel / down-at-the-heel (shabby or impoverished)

He wore a down-at-heel tweed coat with patched elbows. The neighborhood looked increasingly down at heel after the plant closed.

Heel of the hand (fleshy part near the wrist)

Apply pressure using the heel of your hand during CPR chest compressions. She pushed the heavy wooden door open with the heel of her hand.

Heel of the palm (base of the inner hand)

He caught the flying ball against the heel of his palm. Place the heel of your palm firmly against the surface to steady it.

Heel strike (foot landing phase in gait analysis)

A heavy heel strike during running may lead to joint pain. These cushioned sneakers are designed to soften heel strike.

Heel counter (rigid back support in a shoe)

A stiff heel counter stabilizes the foot inside athletic shoes. The worn-out heel counter caused the shoe to slip off easily.

Heel spur (bony outgrowth on the heel bone)

A painful heel spur made it agony for him to walk barefoot. The orthopedic surgeon recommended inserts to relieve the heel spur.

Heel lift (insert raising the shoe's heel)

She slipped a foam heel lift into her boot to correct leg length. The doctor prescribed a heel lift to ease Achilles tendon strain.

Cuban heel (moderately high, sturdy shoe heel)

Flamenco dancers often wear shoes with a stout Cuban heel. His vintage chelsea boots featured a distinctive Cuban heel.

Kitten heel (short, slender shoe heel)

She chose comfortable kitten heels for the long wedding reception. Kitten heels provide subtle height without sacrificing balance.

Stiletto heel (very thin, high shoe heel)

Her stiletto heels clicked rhythmically along the tiled hallway. She sank into the soft turf because of her thin stiletto heels.

Block heel (broad, chunky shoe heel)

A sturdy block heel provides much better stability on uneven ground. She swapped her stilettos for sandals with a moderate block heel.

Wedge heel (heel extending from back to front of shoe)

Espadrilles with a woven wedge heel are popular summer footwear. The wedge heel evenly distributed her weight across the sole.

Turn heel (retreat, flee, or change course abruptly)

Frightened by the barking guard dog, the burglar turned heel. Sensing an ambush ahead, the scout turned heel and raced back.

Heel over (capsize or tilt drastically under wind or wave)

The yacht began to heel over in the twenty-knot gale. High winds caused the ferry to heel over alarmingly during the crossing.

Heeled (wealthy or well-provided, slang)

His eccentric uncle was well heeled and owned multiple estates. Only the most heeled patrons could afford a seat at the charity gala.

Under the heel of (oppressed or controlled by)

The province lived under the heel of an authoritarian regime for decades. Small merchants felt trapped under the heel of retail monopolies.

Iron heel (cruel and tyrannical power or oppression)

Citizens longed for freedom from the iron heel of military rule. Jack London's novel depicted the rise of an iron heel oligarchy.

Heel tab (small pull loop at the back of a shoe)

Use the woven heel tab to pull your running sneakers on easily. The neon heel tab reflected car headlights in the dark.

Heel bone (calcaneus, largest tarsal bone)

The x-ray revealed a clean fracture of his right heel bone. Pain under the heel bone is often a symptom of plantar fasciitis.

Rubber heel (protective rubber pad on a shoe heel)

The cobbler attached fresh rubber heels to the dress shoes. Rubber heels provide better grip on wet linoleum floors.

Heel drop (height difference between shoe heel and toe)

Minimalist runners often prefer footwear with zero heel drop. A shoe with an eight-millimeter heel drop reduces calf strain.

Heel slip (undesired movement of the heel inside footwear)

Lacing the boots higher prevented annoying heel slip on steep trails. Excessive heel slip quickly causes blisters during long hikes.

Heel turn (pro wrestling: character shift from hero to villain)

His shocking heel turn stunned thousands of arena fans. The broadcast commentator reacted in disbelief to the sudden heel turn.

Heel turn (ballroom dance: backward turn on one heel)

The waltz routine requires a smooth, well-balanced heel turn. She executed a crisp heel turn while keeping her posture upright.

Heel-and-toe (driving technique using one foot on two pedals)

Rally drivers use heel-and-toe downshifting to maintain engine revs. Mastering the heel-and-toe motion helps smooth out track braking.

Heel cord (Achilles tendon)

Daily calf stretching helps lengthen a tight heel cord. The athlete ruptured his heel cord while sprinting out of the blocks.

Heel cup (cushioned insert cupping the calcaneus)

Gel heel cups provided instant relief for his sore feet. The podiatrist fitted custom heel cups into her work boots.

Heel seat (portion of shoe sole beneath the heel)

The shoemaker aligned the upper carefully against the heel seat. Nails secure the stacked leather directly onto the heel seat.

To heel (used as an interjection to quiet or restrain)

The trainer barked, 'To heel!' and the shepherd halted instantly. 'To heel, Bruno!' shouted the owner when the mail carrier knocked.