to heel

to heel {adj. phr.}

1. Close behind.

The dog ran after a rabbit, but Jack brought him to heel.

2. Under control; to obedience.

When Peter was sixteen, he thought he could do as he pleased, but his father cut off his allowance, and Peter soon came to heel.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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under one's heel

[under one's heel] {adv. phr.} In one's power or control. * /If one marriage partner always wants to keep the other person under his or her heel, it is not […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

heel

[heel] See: [AT ONE'S HEELS], [COOL ONE'S HEELS], [DOWN AT-THE-HEEL] or [DOWN-AT-HEEL], [DRAG ONE'S FEET] or [DRAG ONE'S HEELS], [HEAD OVER HEELS], [KICK UP ONE'S HEELS], [ON ONE'S HEELS] or […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

Achilles' heel

[Achilles' heel] {n. phr.}, {literary} A physical or psychological weakness named after the Greek hero Achilles who was invulnerable except for a spot on his heel. * /John's Achilles' heel […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

down-at-heel

[down-at-heel] or [down-at-the-heel] or [down-at-the-heels] {adj.} Poorly kept up or dressed shabby; not neat; sloppy. * /John is always down-at-the-heels, but his sister is always very neat./ * /Old houses […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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