Entity: HEELS
HEELS can refer to the back part of the human foot or have slang meanings related to being a bad or untrustworthy person.
HEELS
Etymology
The term 'heel' has various meanings, including the back part of the human foot below the ankle. In slang, it can refer to someone as generally bad or untrustworthy.
Definition
In literal terms, 'heels' refer to the back part of the human foot. However, in slang, it can describe someone as a bad or untrustworthy person.
Historical Context
'Heels' have been used colloquially in various large inter-cities like NYC, Chicago, and L.A. in the 1960s and 1970s to describe someone as untrustworthy or bad.
Cultural Significance
The slang use of 'heels' to describe a bad person has cultural significance in the underworld slang of the U.S., originating as a term for an incompetent or worthless criminal.
Related Concepts
Other related concepts include 'down at heels,' which refers to someone too poor to replace worn-down shoe heels, and 'Achilles' heel,' meaning a vulnerable spot.
See Also
HEELS can refer to the back part of the human foot below the ankle, or slang terms used to describe someone as generally bad or untrustworthy.