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bring to heel

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bring someone to heel

Fig. to cause someone to act in a disciplined fashion; to force someone to act in a more disciplined manner. She tried to bring her husband to heel, but he had a mind of his own. He was brought to heel by his demanding wife.

See also: bring, heel

bring somebody to heel

(slightly formal)

to force someone to obey you Western politicians opposed the president's effort to bring the Supreme Court to heel.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of bring to heel (to order a dog to walk close behind you)

See also: bring, heel

bring/call somebody to heel

to force someone to obey you He decided that threatening to sue the publishers was the easiest way of bringing them to heel.

See also: bring, heel

bring to heel

Force to obey, subjugate. For example, The prisoners were quickly brought to heel. This term transfers commanding a dog to come close behind its master to similar control over human beings or affairs. [Second half of 1800s]

See also: bring, heel