on the heels of

Idioms  

1. Also, hard on the heels of. Directly behind, immediately following, as in Mom's birthday comes on the heels of Mother's Day, or Hard on the heels of the flood there was a tornado. The hard in the variant acts as an intensifier, giving it the sense of “close on the heels of”. [Early 1800s] Also see at one's heels.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on the heels of

Statistics Canada previously estimated a slim 0.1% contraction for the first three months of the year, on the heels of a 1% drop in GDP in the last quarter of 2025.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

It recently surpassed KFC to become America’s third-biggest chicken chain, and it’s hot on the heels of Popeyes too.

From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026

Harbaugh was understandably subdued, especially on the heels of a more encouraging performance in a preseason opener at Houston.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

But, notably, Carter’s director’s cut arrives on Hulu on the heels of Ryan Coogler finishing an “X-Files” reboot pilot for the streamer.

From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026

Right on the heels of the shriek was the longest, highest wail I had ever heard.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles