Phrase guide

cool one's heels

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To wait, especially impatiently or restlessly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

wait or pass the time aimlessly or futilely; be kept waiting

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She kicked her heels for hours at the gate of the Embassy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: kick one's heels

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wait

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: faire le poireau — to wait impatiently or restlessly
  • French: poireauter — to wait impatiently or restlessly
  • Polish: czekać niecierpliwie — to wait impatiently or restlessly