cool one's heels

present singular third person cools one's heels · participle present cooling one's heels · participle past cooled one's heels · past cooled one's heels

1. idiomaticTo wait, especially impatiently or restlessly.

   I cooled my heels in the cloisters till nine, then went in to the music-meeting.

   1711, Jonathan Swift, The Journal to Stella (published 1766), ch. 4, letter 31

   5 more examples

   Remember I say it—he'll cool his heels in a prison, if he's no wiser than of late, before a twel'month.

   1863, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, chapter 27, in The House by the Church Yard

   Indeed his annoyance had time to augment a good deal; for he was allowed to cool his heels a full half hour in the ante-room before those gentlemen emerged and he was ushered into the presence.

   1873, Mark Twain, chapter 28, in The Gilded Age

   "Though Death has been cooling his heels at my door these three weeks, I have not had time to see him."

   1881, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Aes Triplex”, in Essays of Robert Louis Stevenson

   There is the story of the famous Hollywood glamour photographer who cooled his heels around Washington for three months while waiting for one of our leading commanders, and then was granted exactly 15 minutes for the sitting.

   1943 December 28, Herbert L. Bregstein, “The Armored Force and the Camera”, in Popular Photography, volume 13, number 6, page 77

   Once in the White House, Currie became an expert at making small talk with visiting dignitaries, members of Congress, Cabinet Secretaries and other Administration officials as they cooled their heels waiting for the ever tardy Clinton.

   2001 June 24, Nancy Gibbs, “The Currie Riddle”, in Time

   Synonyms: bide one's time, kick one's heels