Can the word "heel" mean the bad guy?

Answer 1

Used originally to describe a "contemptible person," 1914 in U.S. underworld slang, originally "incompetent or worthless criminal," perhaps from a sense of "person in the lowest position" and thus from heel,

Answer 2

Yes. When applied to a man, it generally means bad or undesirable.

Answer 3

The word heel can be used to mean a person of low character, or what would be seen as a "Bad" person, yes.  It is not a compliment to be that type of person.  It is a slur, a declaration of the person being a faulty human being in some way, usually untrustworthy at minimum but possible "bad" in many other ways as well.

Answer 4

It is a somewhat old-fashioned word for a man who treats his wife or girl friend badly. When you say "the bad guy" (rather than "a bad guy") you are referring to the villain in movie or other situation. "Heel" is not used in that sense.

Answer 5

i think thats possible

Answer 6

Yes, but it's fallen out of use.  It's an old expression.

Answer 7

Yes. But not used anymore in the US. 

The term is used a lot in  old movies; especially by women for an unfaithful man

Source(s): Native American English speaker. And old movie fan

Answer 8

Yes, it is a slang expression for a bad person.

Answer 9

Yes.  A low-life.