She tried to bring her husband to heel, but he had a mind of his own.
•He was brought to heel by his demanding wife.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
bring someone to heel — bring (someone) to heel to force someone to obey you. Western politicians opposed the president s effort to bring the Supreme Court to heel. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of bring to heel (= to order a dog to walk close behind you) … New idioms dictionary
bring someone to heel — If you bring someone to heel, you make them obey you.( Call someone to heel is also used.) … The small dictionary of idiomes
bring someone to heel — bring/call/someone to heel phrase to make someone do what you want them to do Thesaurus: to nag or force someone to do somethingsynonym Main entry: heel * * * bring someone under control … Useful english dictionary
bring someone to heel — bring/call (someone) to heel to force someone to obey you. He decided that threatening to sue the publishers was the easiest way of bringing them to heel … New idioms dictionary
bring someone to heel — bring someone under control. → heel … English new terms dictionary
bring someone to heel — If you force someone to behave in a disciplined manner, you bring them to heel. The boy had always behaved badly, but the new headmaster managed to bring him to heel … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
call someone to heel — bring/call/someone to heel phrase to make someone do what you want them to do Thesaurus: to nag or force someone to do somethingsynonym Main entry: heel … Useful english dictionary
call someone to heel — bring/call (someone) to heel to force someone to obey you. He decided that threatening to sue the publishers was the easiest way of bringing them to heel … New idioms dictionary
bring to heel — bring (someone) to heel to force someone to obey you. Western politicians opposed the president s effort to bring the Supreme Court to heel. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of bring to heel (= to order a dog to walk close behind you) … New idioms dictionary
heel — [[t]hi͟ːl[/t]] heels, heeling, heeled 1) N COUNT Your heel is the back part of your foot, just below your ankle. 2) N COUNT The heel of a shoe is the raised part on the bottom at the back. He kicked it shut with the heel of his boot. ...the shoes … English dictionary
heel — heel1 noun 1》 the back part of the foot below the ankle. ↘the part of the palm of the hand next to the wrist. 2》 the part of a shoe or boot supporting the heel. 3》 informal, dated an inconsiderate or untrustworthy person. 4》 the end of a… … English new terms dictionary
