nip on (someone's or something's) heels
nip on (someone's or something's) heels
1. To give someone's or something's heels little ineffectual bites. Their dog kept nipping on my heels whenever I walked through the house. I know some people go crazy for the treatment, but I can't stand the feeling of fish nipping on my heels!
2. By extension, to be very close behind someone or something in rank, score, ability, etc. This underdog team has been nipping on the reigning champions' heels since the very beginning of the match. As technology has improved and become more cost effective, 3D printing has been nipping on the heels of the traditional crafting and manufacturing processes.
See also: heel, nip, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- nip at
- nipping
- nip on
- hard on (one's)/the heels
- hard on your heels
- hard/hot on somebody's heels
- on the heels of
- on the heels of (someone or something)
- hot on the heels of (someone or something)
- hard on the heels of something