dig in one's heels
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.73 in modern English
19
Scrabble Score
14
Letters
1
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To act in a determined manner by firmly maintaining one's beliefs, demands, situation, etc. in the face of opposition or cajoling.
Example Sentences
- "What we want are more women of combined business efficiency and integrity to get into public life and dig in their heels against the forces of war, lust, and injustice."
- "Margaret Thatcher tried to do it again, digging in her heels, lecturing archly on her achievements, illuminating our European partners on the superior virtue of her ways."
- "[T]he teachers' unions are still pretty much digging in their heels on the tenure issue."
Etymology
From firmly placing one’s heels in the ground, particularly in tug of war (pulling) or when bracing oneself (pushing). Compare drag one's feet (“act slowly, from lack of enthusiasm or to delay”).