VOA慢速英语2017--Kick Up Your Heels!

 

Now, it is time for Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English.

On this program we explain the meaning and usage¹ of common expressions in American English.

Today we will talk about expressions with the word “heel.”

Now, heel has several meanings, many of which relate to the end or back of things. For example, we call the two ends of a loaf of bread the heels. This can be good to know, especially if you like dipping a bread heel into a simmering pot of tomato sauce or soup.

Another meaning of heel is the end of your foot. In an earlier Words and Their Stories, we explained the story of Achilles’ heel in detail. So, we won’t repeat that expression in this program. Why should we when they are so many others to choose from?

Just as the heel is the back of your foot, the heel of your shoe is also the back part. Many women like to wear high-heeled shoes. They may look nice but high-heels can cause pain and are not good for your feet. Sometimes we call the really high-heeled shoes that women wear "killer² heels."

Speaking of shoes, wealthy people usually have many. To be well-heeled means to be wealthy and well-to-do. Perhaps wearing nice shoes is where “well-heeled” comes from.

British travelers kick up their heels as they celebrate Christmas Day at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, December 2012. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Let’s move from shoes to pets! You may hear dog owners who are training their dogs say something like, “Heel, boy! Heel!” Here the verb “heel” means to follow or stop at a person’s heels.

Now, you would not to leave your beloved pet with a heel. This is a person you cannot trust. “Heel” used in this way comes from an early 20th century American expression meaning an "incompetent³ or worthless criminal." Language experts say this definition may come from a "person in the lowest position" being compared to the heel of the foot.

Let’s talk more about this body part.

Have you ever wanted to describe a situation where you were unwilling⁴ to change your mind about something? You could say you dug your heels in. Someone digging their heels in the ground would be difficult to move.

Stubborn⁵ is a good word to describe people who have dug their heels in. You could even use them together. For example, I stubbornly⁶ dug my heels in when my friend suggested we go to the mountains instead of the seashore. I really wanted to go to the beach!

If someone (or something) is at your heels, they are following closely behind you. Let’s say you have a little brother who really wants to hang around you all the time. He is always at your heels – which could become annoying.

However, being on the heels of something is a little different. This expression means that something happens soon after something else. For example, Sonia and Timothy announced their plans to get married on the heels of another big announcement – Sonia’s divorce from her last husband. Good timing⁷, Sonia!

As a body part, our heels find themselves in two other common expressions.

To kick up your heels means to have fun. Some word experts think this expression may have come from the world of horses. Others say it comes from the way you might use your feet when you are waiting for something. Regardless of its origin, Americans often use this expression after they have been very busy, as in this example: “After studying all month, the students were happy to finish their exams, kick up their heels and relax!”

The saying to cool your heels means you are forced to wait for something to happen. For example, you may have to cool your heels at a doctor’s office or in a long line at the store. We often use this expression as a command. If your friend really wants to go to a party, but you need to make a quick stop first, you could say, “Hey, cool your heels! The party will still be there!”

“To cool your heels” is also casual. If I were talking in a more serious and official situation, I might say that I waited patiently.

This expression dates back to the 16th century. After horses ran a long race, their feet were hot. So the animals stood in water to cool their feet. By the next century, people were using the saying cooling his heels to describe someone who was in a hurry but had to wait for something.

And that’s all for this Words and Their Stories. We will be back next week. Until then, you’ll just have to cool your heels.

I’m Anna Matteo.

Words in This Story

simmer – v. to stew⁸ gently below or just at the boiling point

stubborn – adj. refusing to change your ideas or to stop doing something

annoying – adj. to cause (someone) to feel slightly angry

patient – adj. able to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time or when dealing⁹ with problems or difficult people : patiently – adv.

1 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

2 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

3 incompetent   

adj.无能力的，不能胜任的

参考例句：

• He is utterly incompetent at his job.他完全不能胜任他的工作。
• He is incompetent at working with his hands.他动手能力不行。

4 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

5 stubborn   

adj.难以移动，去除的，固执的，顽固的

参考例句：

• I can not cope with that boy;he is stubborn.我对付不了那个孩子，他很固执。
• When he's in his stubborn mood,he isn't easily talked round.他那股牛劲上来了，一时不容易说服。

6 stubbornly   

adv.倔强地，顽强地，顽固地

参考例句：

• His jaw jutted stubbornly forward; he would not be denied. 他固执地扬起下巴，一副不肯罢休的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

8 stew   

n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑

参考例句：

• The stew must be boiled up before serving.炖肉必须煮熟才能上桌。
• There's no need to get in a stew.没有必要烦恼。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。