Language: en
Meaning: (idiomatic)Towait, especiallyimpatientlyorrestlessly.1711,Jonathan Swift,The Journal to Stella(published 1766), ch. 4, letter 31:Icooled my heelsin the cloisters till nine, then went in to the music-meeting.1863,Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, chapter 27, inThe House by the Church Yard:Remember I say it—he'llcool his heelsin a prison, if he's no wiser than of late, before a twel'month.1873,Mark Twain, chapter 28, inThe Gilded Age:Indeed his annoyance had time to augment a good deal; for he was allowed tocool his heelsa full half hour in the ante-room before those gentlemen emerged and he was ushered into the presence.1881,Robert Louis Stevenson, “Aes Triplex”, inEssays of Robert Louis Stevenson:"Though Death has beencooling his heelsat my door these three weeks, I have not had time to see him."1943December, Herbert L. Bregstein, “The Armored Force and the Camera”, inPopular Photography, volume13, number 6, page77:There is the story of the famous Hollywood glamour photographer whocooled his heelsaround Washington for three months while waiting for one of our leading commanders, and then was granted exactly 15 minutes for the sitting.2001June 24,Nancy Gibbs, “The Currie Riddle”, inTime:Once in the White House, Currie became an expert at making small talk with visiting dignitaries, members of Congress, Cabinet Secretaries and other Administration officials as theycooled their heelswaiting for the ever tardy Clinton.
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