turning on one's heel

Verb

turn on one's heel (third-person singular simple present turns on one's heel, present participle turning on one's heel, simple past and past participle turned on one's heel)

1. (idiomatic) To suddenly turn away from someone or something in order to depart rapidly, especially as expressive of haughtiness, disapproval, or evasiveness.
   • There he stood, answering shortly and gruffly to all questions proposed to him, . . . and as soon as the ancient priestess had handed him his glass of the salutiferous water, turned on his heel with a brief good-morning.1824, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 9, in St. Ronan's Well