English

Verb

turn on one's heel

1. (idiomatic) To suddenly turn away from someone or something in order to depart rapidly, especially as expressive of haughtiness, disapproval, or evasiveness.
   • 1824, Sir Walter Scott, St. Ronan's Well, ch. 9:

     There he stood, answering shortly and gruffly to all questions proposed to him, . . . and as soon as the ancient priestess had handed him his glass of the salutiferous water, turned on his heel with a brief good-morning.

   • 1899, Arthur Conan Doyle, A Duet, ch. 14:

     "Well, Maude, he was on the platform this morning, and when he saw me, he turned on his heel and hurried out of the station."

   • 1906, Annie Fellows Johnston, The Little Colonel: Maid of Honor, ch. 14:

     But Bernice, standing stiff and angry in the starlight, turned on her heel without a response.

   • 1949 May 9, "Unseasonal Weather," Time:

     In one store she eyed a cotton dress, turned on her heel when she saw the $40 price tag.

   • 2004 March 1, Elisabeth Bumiller, "On Gay Marriage, Bush May Have Said All He’s Going To," New York Times (retrieved 18 July 2011):

     When Mr. Bush finished his five-minute statement . . . he abruptly turned on his heel and strode from the room, ignoring all questions.

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