set back on one's heels Idiom, Proverb
set back on one's heels|heel|heels|knock back on o
v. phr.,
informal To give an unpleasant surprise; upset suddenly; stop or turn back (someone's) progress.
Jack brags too much and it set him back on his heels when the coach told him he wasn't as good a player as he thought he was. Jean was doing very well in school until sickness knocked her back on her heels. Compare: KNOCK FOR A LOOP, THROW FOR A LOSS.
set back on one's heels
set back on one's heels Surprise, shock, or disconcert, as in
The news of their divorce set us back on our heels. This idiom, with its graphic image of someone being pushed back, dates from the first half of the 1900s.
set (one) aback on (one's) heels
To put one into a accompaniment of surprise, unease, or bemusement, abnormally such that it affects their adeptness to accomplish or function. The abrupt arrest of one of our teammates aftermost night absolutely set us aback on our heels, and we weren't able to comedy to the best of our abilities this morning. The tragedy set the absolute association aback on their heels.Learn more: back, heel, on, setset aback on one's heels
Surprise, shock, or disconcert, as in The account of their annulment set us aback on our heels. This idiom, with its clear angel of addition actuality pushed back, dates from the aboriginal bisected of the 1900s. Learn more: back, heel, on, set