down-at-the-heels

[ doun-uht-thuh-heelz ]

/ ˈdaʊn ət ðəˈhilz /

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adjective

having a shabby, run-down appearance; seedy: He is rapidly becoming a down-at-the-heels drifter and a drunk.

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Also down-at-the-heel; down-at-heel

[doun-uht-heel], /ˈdaʊn ət ˈhil/, down-at-heels .

Origin of down-at-the-heels

First recorded in 1695–1705

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