hairy at the  heel
hairy
heəri
heri
at
æt
āt
the
ðə
dhē
heel
hi:l
hil

Definition & Meaning of "hairy at the heel "in English

hairy at the heel
01

lacking good manners 

Dialectbritish flagBritish
hairy at the [heel] definition and meaning
Old use

What is the origin of the idiom "hairy at the heel " and when to use it?

The idiom "hairy at the heel" dates back to at least the 17th century. It originally referred to horses that appeared healthy except for fur or hairy growths around their heels, which indicated underlying problems. Today, it is used to describe a person who has bad manners and not behave well in social situations.

Examples
He is hairy at the heel and never says please or thank you. 
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