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 ˈheel of somebody
(literary) completely in somebody’s control; dominated by somebody: For years, the country was under the heel of a dictator.