dig in one's heels

present singular third person digs in one's heels · participle present digging in one's heels · participle past dug in one's heels · past dug in one's heels

1. idiomaticTo act in a determined manner by firmly maintaining one's beliefs, demands, situation, etc. in the face of opposition or cajoling.

   [T]he teachers' unions are still pretty much digging in their heels on the tenure issue.

   2011 January 27, Andrew J. Rotherham, “Fixing Teacher Tenure Without a Pass-Fail Grade”, in Time

   2 more examples

   What we want are more women of combined business efficiency and integrity to get into public life and dig in their heels against the forces of war, lust, and injustice.

   1938 July 16, Jean Kelvin, “The Tug of War”, in Glasgow Herald, retrieved 18 Jul 2011, page 8

   Margaret Thatcher tried to do it again, digging in her heels, lecturing archly on her achievements, illuminating our European partners on the superior virtue of her ways.

   1989 June 28, Flora Lewis, “Foreign Affairs: Maggie on the Beach”, in New York Times, retrieved 18 Jul 2011

   Synonyms: plant one's feet