dig one's heels in
Meaning: To refuse stubbornly to change one's mind.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The toddler dug her heels in and refused to wear the coat.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: Someone being pulled along plants their heels in the ground to resist. The figurative phrase is common from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Swedish: Att sätta sig på tvären — literally: To sit down crosswise
- Hungarian: Nem enged a negyvennyolcból — literally: He won't budge from the forty-eight
More idioms — Body & Senses
- the scales fall from one's eyes — To suddenly see the truth after being deceived.
- feet of clay — A hidden weakness in someone or something admired.
- get to grips with something — To start dealing seriously with a problem.
- get one's hands on something — To obtain something, often with difficulty.
- have one's head screwed on — To be sensible and practical.
- put on a brave face — To look cheerful or confident while feeling otherwise.
More English idioms
- raze to the ground — To destroy a building or town completely.
- the law of the jungle — A situation where the strongest or most ruthless win.
- dig one's own grave — To cause one's own downfall.
- wouldn't hurt a fly — Is very gentle and harmless.
- in borrowed plumes — Pretending to qualities or achievements that belong to someone else.
- come in handy — To be useful when needed.
From our untranslatable words
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