under the heel of (someone)
Subservient to someone; under someone's complete control. I'm really sick of being under the heel of these incompetent managers—I'm ready to go and start working for myself! Resentment has grown over the years among a populace that feels it's been under the heel of its southern neighbor for years.
under the heel of
dominated or controlled by. 1990 Julian Fane Hope Cottage The exceptional sufferings of Russia under the heel of Marxism may in the long run have a redemptive effect.