to wait or take rest
it has also been extensively used for those who are awaiting some sort of chastisement
to be detained or obliged to wait
The prisoner has been awarded the death penalty is cooling his heels until the President evaluates if mercy can be sanctioned.
Their journey is still far from over. They will cool their heels tonight at a five star hotel to commence travelling again from morning.
The man works so hard for his family, he deserves to cool his heels every now and then.
You will burn yourself out if you do not cool your heels when you can.
You cannot keep cooling your heels and then expect work to be done.
The group of bikers riding through the country since last nine days were left to cool their heels overnight at a very inexpensive inn last night.
There is no origin for this idiom
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definition
Common phrase that has a specific meaning.