The expression "at heels of" is used to describe someone or something that is closely following or pursuing another person or thing. The phonetic transcription of this phrase would be /æt hilz ʌv/, with the stress on the second syllable of "heels". The spelling of "heels" in this context refers to the back part of a person's foot, which is where the expression originally came from. This phrase can be used in a variety of contexts, such as sports, politics or even fashion.
The phrase "at heels of" is idiomatic in nature, and it is employed to describe a specific situation where someone or something closely follows or pursues another person or thing, often in a determined or persistent manner. The term is usually used metaphorically rather than literally and can only be negated by referring to the "heels" as a figurative aspect rather than a bodily, physical possession.
It can illustrate a sense of being close on someone's trail or consistently chasing someone or something without pause. The idea behind "at heels of" is that the person or thing being pursued is continuously aware of the presence or proximity of the one pursuing, almost as if they were figuratively stepping on their heels.
This phrase typically conveys a sense of urgency, perseverance or determination from the party that is following. It can be used both literally and figuratively to mean that someone is following closely behind, either in a physical sense or in a metaphorical sense of trying to catch up or achieve similar success or recognition.
To summarize, "at heels of" denotes the act of closely pursuing or following someone or something, either literally or metaphorically, conveying a sense of urgency, determination, or persistence from the pursuing party.