cool (one's) heels
To wait or be kept waiting

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

cool heels
cool (your) heels
if someone leaves you to cool your heels, they force you to wait, often until you become calmer.
The youths were left to cool their heels overnight in a police cell.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

cool one's heels
to be forced to wait by someone in power or authority; to be kept waiting
I was forced to cool my heels in the lobby for an hour while I waited for the job interview.

The man was forced to cool his heels in the waiting room before his boss would talk to him.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

cool one's heels
v. phr., slang To be kept waiting by another's pride or rudeness; be forced to wait by someone in power or authority; wait.
He cooled his heels for an hour in another room before the great man would see him.
I was left to cool my heels outside while the others went into the office.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲