lay by the heels | Idiomator

Meaning: (dated,idiomatic)Tofetter, toshackle; toimprison.1613(date written),William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, inMr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies[…](First Folio), London:[…]Isaac Iaggard, andEd[ward]Blount, published1623,→OCLC,[Act V, scene iii]:As I live,If the king blame me for 't, I'lllay ye allBy the heels, and suddenly; and on your headsClap round fines , for neglect1668November 2 (date written; Gregorian calendar),Samuel Pepys,Mynors Bright, transcriber, “October 23rd, 1668”, inHenry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor,The Diary of Samuel Pepys[…], volume VIII, London:George Bell & Sons[…]; Cambridge:Deighton Bell & Co., published1896,→OCLC,page129:[M]y Lord Chief Justice Keeling hathlaidthe constableby the heelsto answer it next Sessions: which is a horrid shame.1714June 1 (Gregorian calendar),Joseph Addison, “The Free-holder: No. 44. Friday, May 21.[1714.]”, inThe Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison, Esq;[…], volume IV, London:[…]Jacob Tonson,[…], published1721,→OCLC:I[…]could not but wonder that none of the Middlesex justices took care tolaysome of themby the heels.1903, Arthur Conan Doyle,The Empty House:I read the papers with some attention during my sojourn in France, on the look-out for any chance oflayinghimby the heels.1904, Arthur Conan Doyle,The Six Napoleons:If you will come with us to-night I shall be able to help you tolayhimby the heels.

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