snap at someone's heels

verb

To compete with someone closely, with the possibility of soon defeating or replacing them.

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Meanings

verbsnap at someone's heels (third-person singular simple present snaps at someone's heels, present participle snapping at someone's heels, simple past and past participle snapped at someone's heels)

present singular third person snaps at someone's heels · participle present snapping at someone's heels · participle past snapped at someone's heels · past snapped at someone's heels

  1. idiomaticinformalTo compete with someone closely, with the possibility of soon defeating or replacing them.
Cite this entry
APA

snap at someone's heels. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/snap%20at%20someone's%20heels

MLA

“snap at someone's heels.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/snap%20at%20someone's%20heels. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “snap at someone's heels,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/snap%20at%20someone's%20heels.

Source: snap at someone's heels on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.