light-heeled

She is light-heeled as she skips across the playground.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Swift-footed; agile: "light-heeled" describes someone who moves quickly and nimbly, especially in walking, running, or dancing.
   • Lively or sprightly in movement: Often used to convey a sense of energetic, graceful motion.

Usage Examples

• (The dancer moved swiftly and nimbly.)
• (She was agile and fast on her feet.)

Advanced Usage

• "light-heeled" as a poetic or literary descriptor: The term is somewhat archaic and often appears in formal or literary contexts to emphasize elegance or speed.
  • The messenger, light-heeled, arrived before the dawn. (The messenger moved quickly, arriving early.)

Variants and Related Words

• Light-footed (adj): similar in meaning, emphasizing nimbleness and speed.
  • The cat was light-footed, making no sound as it crept. (The cat moved quietly and agilely.)
• Heavy-heeled (antonym): describing someone who moves slowly or clumsily.
  • The tired soldier was heavy-heeled after the long march. (He moved with difficulty and weight.)

Synonyms

• Swift: moving at high speed.
• Nimble: quick and light in movement or action.
• Agile: able to move quickly and easily.

Related Idioms

• Light on one's feet: to move gracefully and nimbly (similar to "light-heeled").
  • Despite his size, he was light on his feet during the dance. (He moved with ease and agility.)

Notes

• "Light-heeled" is a compound adjective derived from "light" (meaning not heavy) and "heel" (the back part of the foot). It is rarely used in modern everyday speech but may appear in historical texts, poetry, or descriptive writing.