Kick your heels
idiom
To have nothing to do, or to wait for a long time.
The boss said he'd be back in 5 minutes, but an hour later we are still kicking our heels.
Often appears as...
- kick your heels in boredom
- kick your heels waiting
Usage tips
General, Idiomatic
idiom
To spend time doing nothing important while waiting.
Until the plane arrives, we'll just have to kick our heels at the airport.
Often appears as...
- kick your heels until
- kick your heels in hope
Usage tips
General, Idiomatic
idiom
To have nothing to do, or to wait for a long time.
The boss said he'd be back in 5 minutes, but an hour later we are still kicking our heels.
Often appears as...
- kick your heels in boredom
- kick your heels waiting
Usage tips
General, Idiomatic
idiom
To spend time doing nothing important while waiting.
Until the plane arrives, we'll just have to kick our heels at the airport.
Often appears as...
- kick your heels until
- kick your heels in hope
Usage tips
General, Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Passive Waiting
Used when someone waits without actively doing anything else, often out of necessity.
Stuck in a traffic jam, she had no choice but to kick her heels.
Pro Tip 2/3Frustration Implied
May imply irritation or impatience because of the delay.
They were kicking their heels as the meeting was postponed again.
Pro Tip 3/3Informal Situations
Commonly used in casual or informal contexts rather than formal or professional ones.
We'll just be kicking our heels until the band starts playing.
Pro Tip 1/3Passive Waiting
Used when someone waits without actively doing anything else, often out of necessity.
Stuck in a traffic jam, she had no choice but to kick her heels.
Pro Tip 2/3Frustration Implied
May imply irritation or impatience because of the delay.
They were kicking their heels as the meeting was postponed again.
Pro Tip 3/3Informal Situations
Commonly used in casual or informal contexts rather than formal or professional ones.
We'll just be kicking our heels until the band starts playing.
Pro Tip 1/3Passive Waiting
Used when someone waits without actively doing anything else, often out of necessity.
Stuck in a traffic jam, she had no choice but to kick her heels.
Pro Tip 2/3Frustration Implied
May imply irritation or impatience because of the delay.
They were kicking their heels as the meeting was postponed again.
Pro Tip 3/3Informal Situations
Commonly used in casual or informal contexts rather than formal or professional ones.
We'll just be kicking our heels until the band starts playing.
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