Meaning of lay by the heels | Babel Free

Definitions

To fetter, to shackle; to imprison.

dated, idiomatic

Examples

“As I live, If the king blame me for 't, I'll lay ye all By the heels , and suddenly; and on your heads Clap round fines , for neglect”

“[M]y Lord Chief Justice Keeling hath laid the constable by the heels to answer it next Sessions: which is a horrid shame.”

“I […]could not but wonder that none of the Middlesex justices took care to lay some of them by the heels.”

“I read the papers with some attention during my sojourn in France, on the look-out for any chance of laying him by the heels.”

“If you will come with us to-night I shall be able to help you to lay him by the heels.”

CEFR level