to show a clean pair of heels
- idiom
- UK
:
salir corriendo
- The thieves showed a clean pair of heels when they heard the police sirens.
Examples
-
Rather than argue, he preferred to show a clean pair of heels and leave quietly.
-
As soon as the fire alarm rang, the students decided to show a clean pair of heels.
-
He decided to show a clean pair of heels when he saw the bear.
-
Don't show a clean pair of heels just because things get tough!
-
When the storm hit, we had to show a clean pair of heels to get to safety.
-
As soon as the teacher approached, the students decided to show a clean pair of heels and escape the classroom.
-
The dog showed a clean pair of heels when it spotted the approaching stranger.
Synonyms
331
2.4
To run away from a place because it is dangerous
36
5.3
To try to escape quickly, often by running
31
5.5
To move quickly with short hurried steps, often to hide or escape
18
8.3
To leave a place very quickly to escape danger or trouble
16
8.4
To leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
11
4.4
Leave a place quickly to avoid being caught after causing or seeing trouble
7
5.6
To leave a place quickly to escape danger or trouble
7
9.2
Leave a place quickly to avoid trouble or danger
5
8.0
To leave a place very quickly to avoid danger or trouble
5
7.2
Leave quickly to go somewhere or to avoid trouble
2
9.0
To leave quickly to escape or avoid something
1
9.0
Move quickly on foot to escape or reach a place fast
1
6.1
Run away quickly to escape danger or trouble
To leave quickly to avoid trouble or attention
Antonyms
How Fast
331
2.4
- UK
2
2.5
550
1.6
632
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
show + a + clean + pair + of + heel
The literal meanings of 'show', 'clean', 'pair' and 'heels' do not directly yield 'run away quickly' for a B1 learner, so the idiomatic sense is not fully predictable. However, there is a visible metaphorical cue — 'heels' evokes feet and fleeing — so a partial connection exists but requires prior exposure to be reliable.
Etymology
The expression show a clean pair of heels may come from the image of a person running away so fast that you only see the backs of their shoes, the heels, as they hurry off. So it came to mean 'to run away quickly'.