Why "hot on the heels"

China's economy soars, with inflation hot on its heels.

This headline talks about the expansion of the Chinese economy with the inflation rates "hot on its heels".

Here we have the expression "hot on one's heels" metaphorically explaining the inflation rates in China. You can also say "hard on someone's heels", which has the same meaning: both mean following the other very closely.

I was walking out of the hotel heading to the museum when I realized that a male beggar was hard on my heels, pushing for money; I was scared.

A witness saw Sam hot on the victim's heels in the car park before the attack. 

So what the headline tells us is that China's economy is expanding but that (high) inflation rates are following immediately after.

When one event or situation follows hard on the heels of another, it happens immediately or quickly after it.

Protests followed hard on the heels of the announcement of the wage cut.

On the cool side, when someone is cooling their heels or kicking their heels, the person is deliberately keeping you waiting just to make you bored or impatient.

She was kicking her heels to see how much patience he had.

 It is not the same as when someone drags his/her heels because that is when the person does something unwillingly and intentionally slowly.

The boy would drag his heels every evening to prolong his bed time.

 Do you know anyone who has people under their heel or beneath their heel? (Please note "heel" not "heels"). This person has a group of individuals under her/her power and control.

Those under the heel of a corrupt politician will definitely do anything he says.

How on earth did he have the whole country beneath his heel?

Complete the sentences with the expressions explained

1. A rice shortage ......of the price hike.

2. It was upsetting that you were ...... after class, when your father came to pick you up from school.

3. Jackson has the whole community ...... ; so be careful before you say something against him in public.

4. The hilltribe children were ...... , asking for some of the food I was eating..

5. Will you stop ...... and finish your work? There are other people who want to use that computer too.

Answers: 1. followed hard on the heels, 2. cooling your heels, 3. has… beneath his heel, 4. treading hard on my heels/hot on my heels, 5. dragging your heels

By Parnsap Yomanage