turn on one's heel
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.72 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
14
Letters
1
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To suddenly turn away from someone or something in order to depart rapidly, especially as expressive of haughtiness, disapproval, or evasiveness.
Example Sentences
- "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."
- ""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.""
- "But Bernice, standing stiff and angry in the starlight, turned on her heel without a response."
- "In one store she eyed a cotton dress, turned on her heel when she saw the $40 price tag."
- "When Mr. Bush finished his five-minute statement . . . he abruptly turned on his heel and strode from the room, ignoring all questions."