To tread upon the heels of

To tread upon the heels of
Tread Tread, v. i. [imp. {Trod}; p. p. {Trodden}, {Trod}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Treading}.] [OE. treden, AS. tredan; akin to OFries. treda, OS. tredan, D. & LG. treden, G. treten, OHG. tretan, Icel. tro?a, Sw. tr[*a]da, tr["a]da, Dan. tr[ae]de, Goth. trudan, and perhaps ultimately to F. tramp; cf. Gr. ? a running, Skr. dram to run. Cf. {Trade}, {Tramp}, {Trot}.] 1. To set the foot; to step. [1913 Webster]

Where'er you tread, the blushing flowers shall rise. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

The hard stone Under our feet, on which we tread and go. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2. To walk or go; especially, to walk with a stately or a cautious step. [1913 Webster]

Ye that . . . stately tread, or lowly creep. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. To copulate; said of birds, esp. the males. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{To tread on} or {To tread upon}. (a) To trample; to set the foot on in contempt. ``Thou shalt tread upon their high places.'' --Deut. xxxiii. 29. (b) to follow closely. ``Year treads on year.'' --Wordsworth.

{To tread upon the heels of}, to follow close upon. ``Dreadful consequences that tread upon the heels of those allowances to sin.'' --Milton. [1913 Webster]

One woe doth tread upon another's heel. --Shak. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • tread upon the heels of — Follow close upon …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • To tread upon — Tread Tread, v. i. [imp. {Trod}; p. p. {Trodden}, {Trod}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Treading}.] [OE. treden, AS. tredan; akin to OFries. treda, OS. tredan, D. & LG. treden, G. treten, OHG. tretan, Icel. tro?a, Sw. tr[*a]da, tr[ a]da, Dan. tr[ae]de, Goth.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tread — Tread, v. i. [imp. {Trod}; p. p. {Trodden}, {Trod}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Treading}.] [OE. treden, AS. tredan; akin to OFries. treda, OS. tredan, D. & LG. treden, G. treten, OHG. tretan, Icel. tro?a, Sw. tr[*a]da, tr[ a]da, Dan. tr[ae]de, Goth. trudan …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To be at the heels of — Heel Heel, n. [OE. hele, heele, AS. h[=e]la, perh. for h[=o]hila, fr. AS. h[=o]h heel (cf. {Hough}); but cf. D. hiel, OFries. heila, h[=e]la, Icel. h[ae]ll, Dan. h[ae]l, Sw. h[ a]l, and L. calx. [root]12. Cf. {Inculcate}.] 1. The hinder part of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To lay by the heels — Heel Heel, n. [OE. hele, heele, AS. h[=e]la, perh. for h[=o]hila, fr. AS. h[=o]h heel (cf. {Hough}); but cf. D. hiel, OFries. heila, h[=e]la, Icel. h[ae]ll, Dan. h[ae]l, Sw. h[ a]l, and L. calx. [root]12. Cf. {Inculcate}.] 1. The hinder part of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To take to the heels — Heel Heel, n. [OE. hele, heele, AS. h[=e]la, perh. for h[=o]hila, fr. AS. h[=o]h heel (cf. {Hough}); but cf. D. hiel, OFries. heila, h[=e]la, Icel. h[ae]ll, Dan. h[ae]l, Sw. h[ a]l, and L. calx. [root]12. Cf. {Inculcate}.] 1. The hinder part of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To tread upon one's heels — Heel Heel, n. [OE. hele, heele, AS. h[=e]la, perh. for h[=o]hila, fr. AS. h[=o]h heel (cf. {Hough}); but cf. D. hiel, OFries. heila, h[=e]la, Icel. h[ae]ll, Dan. h[ae]l, Sw. h[ a]l, and L. calx. [root]12. Cf. {Inculcate}.] 1. The hinder part of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To be out at the heels — Heel Heel, n. [OE. hele, heele, AS. h[=e]la, perh. for h[=o]hila, fr. AS. h[=o]h heel (cf. {Hough}); but cf. D. hiel, OFries. heila, h[=e]la, Icel. h[ae]ll, Dan. h[ae]l, Sw. h[ a]l, and L. calx. [root]12. Cf. {Inculcate}.] 1. The hinder part of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To cool the heels — Heel Heel, n. [OE. hele, heele, AS. h[=e]la, perh. for h[=o]hila, fr. AS. h[=o]h heel (cf. {Hough}); but cf. D. hiel, OFries. heila, h[=e]la, Icel. h[ae]ll, Dan. h[ae]l, Sw. h[ a]l, and L. calx. [root]12. Cf. {Inculcate}.] 1. The hinder part of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • To have the heels of — Heel Heel, n. [OE. hele, heele, AS. h[=e]la, perh. for h[=o]hila, fr. AS. h[=o]h heel (cf. {Hough}); but cf. D. hiel, OFries. heila, h[=e]la, Icel. h[ae]ll, Dan. h[ae]l, Sw. h[ a]l, and L. calx. [root]12. Cf. {Inculcate}.] 1. The hinder part of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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