turn on one's heel



turn on one's heel

Leave, as in When I inquired about his sister, he turned on his heel and walked away. This idiom alludes to making a sharp about-face similar to a military step but here usually implies a sudden departure. It was first recorded in 1751.
See also: heel, on, turn

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
LeonhardLE-awn-hahrtGerman
BurchardBOOR-kahrt (German)German, Ancient Germanic
Attilaə-TIL-ə (English)History, Hungarian
KatiKAH-tee (Finnish)Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian
Albericoahl-be-REE-ko Italian
Melqart-Near Eastern Mythology