on heels

on (one's) heels

1. (Following) very close behind one, often persistently and to one's annoyance. I'm a preschool teacher, so I've had toddlers on my heels all day. The interior designer can't get any work done with your puppy on her heels!
2. Close to overtaking a fellow competitor. The leading candidate should be concerned about the underdog on his heels. If she does poorly on this exam, she may lose the title of valedictorian to one of the students on her heels.
See also: heel, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*on someone's heels

Fig. following someone very closely; following very closely at someone's heels. (*Typically: hard ~; hot ~; right ~. See also on someone's tail.) I ran as fast as I could, but the dog was still hard on my heels. Here comes Sally, and John is hot on her heels.
See also: heel, on
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • at/on somebody's heels
  • shake (one's) fist at (someone or something)
  • shake your fist
  • soapbox
  • be on (one's) soapbox
  • be/get on your soapbox
  • on (one's) soapbox
  • on one's soapbox
  • on soapbox
  • on your soapbox
References in periodicals archive
The new collection from Dumond rings out contrast styles with arabesques designs on heels to wild conjures on boots.
Get enthralled this fall with Dumond's new collection
The son of Domedriver quickened impressively to land a bit of a gamble at Brighton on his reappearance and ran a fine race on the all-weather at Lingfield last time considering he was stuck on heels when the contest began in earnest and had to make his challenge up the unfavoured inside rail in the straight.
Call It On to build on promise of his York reappearance