American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms
.pdfBOTTOM OUT (PROPS OUT FROM UNDER); KNUCKLE UNDER; LIGHT A FIRE UNDER; NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN; OF (UNDER) AGE; OUT FROM UNDER; PLOW UNDER; PULL THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER; PUT THE SKIDS UNDER; SIX FEET UNDER; SNOW UNDER; SWEEP UNDER THE RUG; WATER OVER THE DAM (UNDER THE BRIDGE).
under a cloud
Under suspicion, in trouble, or out of favor, as in Ever since his brother was accused of fraud, he's been under a cloud. This metaphoric expression calls up the image of a single black cloud hanging over an individual. [c. 1500]
under age
hand. see under OF AGE.
under any circumstances Also, under no circumstances. hand. See UNDER THE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
under arrest
In police custody, as in They put him under arrest and charged him with stealing a car. [Late 1300s]
under consideration
Being thought about or discussed, as in Your application is under consideration; we'll let you know next week. This idiom was first recorded in 1665.
under cover
1. Protected by a shelter, as in It began to pour but fortunately we were under cover. [c. 1400] 2. under cover of. Also, under the cover of. Hidden or protected by, as in They sneaked out under cover of darkness, or, as it was put in a sermon in 1751: "Presumption which loves to conceal itself under the cover of humility" (John Jortin, Sermons on Different Subjects).
under false colors
hand. see FALSE COLORS.
under fire
Criticized or held responsible, as in The landlord is under fire for not repairing the roof. This expression originally referred to being within range of enemy guns; its figurative use dates from the late 1800s.
underground railroad
A secret network for moving and housing fugitives, as in There's definitely an underground railroad helping women escape abusive husbands. This term, dating from the first half of the 1800s, alludes
Fascinated or influenced by someone, as in I think he has our daughter under his spell. This idiom derives from the literal meaning of spell, "a word or formula that has magical power." [Mid-1800s]
under someone's thumb
Controlled or dominated by someone, as in He's been under his mother's thumb for years. The allusion in this metaphoric idiom is unclear, that is, why a thumb rather than a fist or some other anatomic part should symbolize control. [Mid-1700s]
under someone's wing
Guided or protected by someone, as in The department head asked Bill to take Joe under his wing during his first few weeks with the firm. This metaphoric term alludes to the mother hen sheltering her chicks. [1200s]
understand
hand. see GIVE TO UNDERSTAND.
under the aegis of Also, under the auspices of. Protected or sponsored by, as in The fund drive for the new field is under the aegis of the Rotary Club, or He was admitted to the club under the auspices of Mr. Leonard. The first term comes from Greek myth, where the aegis was the protective shield of Zeus. Auspices originally meant "observations of birds made to obtain omens." It then came to be used for a sign or omen, and still later for a favorable influence. [Late 1700s]
under the circumstances Also, in the circumstances. Given these conditions, such being the case, as in Under the circumstances we can't leave Mary out. This idiom uses circumstance in the sense of "a particular situation," a usage dating from the late 1300s. It may also be modified in various ways, such as under any circumstances meaning "no matter what the situation," as in
We'll phone her under any circumstances; under no circumstances, meaning "in no case, never," as in Under no circumstances may you smoke; under any other circumstances, meaning "in a different situation,'' as in I can't work under any other circumstances; and under the same circumstances, meaning "given the same situation," as in Under the same circumstances anyone would have done the same.
under the counter
Secretly, surreptitiously, as in I'm sure they're selling liquor to minors under the counter. This expression most often alludes to an illegal transaction, the counter being the flat-surfaced furnishing or table over which legal business is conducted. It was first recorded in 1926. Also see
UNDER THE TABLE.
under the gun
Under pressure to solve a problem or meet a deadline, as in The reporter was under the gun for that article on taxes. This idiom alludes to a gun being pointed at a person to force him or her to act. [Colloquial; c. 1900]
under the hammer
For sale, as in These paintings and Oriental rugs must come under the hammer if we're to pay the
untimely
hand. see COME TO AN (UNTIMELY) END.
unto
hand. see DO UNTO OTHERS; LAW UNTO ONESELF.
unturned
hand. see LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.
unvarnished truth
The plain facts without embellishment, as in Let's just have the unvarnished truth about the sale.
This idiom was first recorded in 1883, although unvarnished had been used to describe a direct statement since Shakespeare's time.
unwritten law
An accepted although informal rule of behavior, as in It's an unwritten law that you lock the gate when you leave the swimming pool. [Mid-1400s]
up
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with UP, also see ACT UP; ADD UP; ADD UP
TO; ALL SHOOK UP; ALL UP; ANTE UP; BACK UP; BALL UP; BANG UP; BARK UP THE WRONG TREE; BEAR UP; BEAT UP; BEEF UP; BID UP; BLOW UP; BOB UP; BONE UP; BOOT UP; BOTTLE UP; BOUND UP IN; BRACE UP; BREAK UP; BRING UP; BRING UP THE REAR; BRING UP TO DATE; BRUSH UP; BUCKLE UP; BUCK UP; BUDDY UP; BUILD UP; BUMP UP; BURN UP; BUTTER UP; BUTTON UP; BUY UP; CALL UP; CAMP IT UP; CARD UP ONE'S SLEEVE; CATCH UP; CHALK UP; CHARGE
UP; CHAT UP; CHEER UP; CHOKE UP; CHOOSE UP; CLAM UP; CLEAN UP; CLEAR UP; CLOCK UP;
CLOSE UP; CLOUD OVER (UP); COME (UP) FROM BEHIND; COME UP; COME UP AGAINST; COME UP ROSES; COME UP WITH; COOK UP; COUGH UP; COVER UP; COZY UP; CRACKED UP; CRACK UP; CRANK UP; CRAP UP; CREEP UP ON; CROP UP; CROSS UP; CURL UP; CUT UP; DEAD FROM THE NECK UP; DIG UP; DOLL UP; DOUBLE UP; DO UP; DRAW UP; DREAM UP; DRESS UP; DRUM UP; DRY UP; EASE OFF (UP); EAT OUT (SOMEONE UP); EAT UP; END UP; FACE UP TO; FED TO THE GILLS (UP); FEEL UP; FEEL UP TO; FIGURE UP; FIRE UP; FIT OUT (UP); FIX UP; FIX UP WITH; FLARE UP; FOLD UP; FOLLOW UP; FOUL UP; FROM THE GROUND UP; FUCK UP; GAME IS UP; GANG UP; GAS UP; GEAR UP; GET SOMEONE'S BACK UP; GET UP; GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF BED; GET UP STEAM; GIVE ONESELF UP; GIVE UP; GIVE UP THE GHOST; GO BELLY UP; GOOF UP; GO UP; GO UP IN FLAMES; GROW UP; GUM UP; HAM UP; HANDS UP; HANG UP; HARD
UP; HAUL UP; HAVE HAD IT (UP TO HERE); HEADS UP; HEAD UP; HEAT UP; HIT UP; HOLD ONE'S END UP; HOLD ONE'S HEAD HIGH (UP); HOLD UP; HOLE UP; HOOK UP; HOPPED UP; HURRY UP AND WAIT; HUSH UP; JACK UP; JAZZ UP; JUICE UP; KEEP IT UP; KEEP ONE'S CHIN UP; KEEP (SOMEONE) UP; KEY UP; KICK UP; KICK UP A FUSS; KICK UP ONE'S HEELS; KISS AND MAKE UP; KNOCK UP; LAID UP; LAND IN (UP); LAP UP; LARK IT UP; LAUGH UP ONE'S SLEEVE; LAY IN (UP); LEAD DOWN (UP) THE GARDEN PATH; LEAD UP TO; LEG UP; LET UP; LIGHTEN UP; LIGHT UP; LINE UP; LIVE IT UP; LIVE UP TO; LOCK UP; LOOK OVER (UP AND DOWN); LOOK UP; LOUSE UP; MAKE UP; MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME; MAKE UP ONE'S MIND; MAKE UP TO; MARK UP; MEASURE UP; MEET UP WITH; MESS UP; MIX IT UP; MIX UP; MOP UP; MOP UP THE FLOOR WITH; MOVE UP; MUCK UP; NOT ALL IT'S CRACKED UP TO BE; NUMBER'S UP; ONE UP; ON THE UP-AND-UP; OPEN UP; OWN UP; PAIR OFF (UP); PASS UP; PATCH UP; PAY UP; PEP SOMEONE UP; PERK UP; PICK UP; PICK UP ON; PILE UP; PIPE UP; PLAY UP; PLAY UP TO; PLUCK UP; POINT UP; PONY UP; POP UP; PRICK UP ONE'S EARS; PSYCH UP; PULL ONESELF UP; PULL UP; PULL UP STAKES; PUMP UP; PUSH UP DAISIES; PUT ONE'S FEET UP; PUT SOMEONE UP TO; PUT UP; PUT-UP JOB; PUT UP OR SHUT UP; PUT UP WITH; RACK UP; RAKE UP; READ UP; REV UP; RIDE UP; RIGHT-SIDE UP; RIGHT UP ONE'S ALLEY; RING UP; ROLL UP; ROLL UP ONE'S SLEEVES; ROUGH UP; ROUND UP; RUB UP ON; RUN (UP) AGAINST; RUN UP; RUSTLE UP; SAVE UP FOR; SCARE UP; SCRAPE UP AN ACQUAINTANCE; SCREW UP; SCROUNGE AROUND (UP); SCRUB UP; SEAL OFF (UP); SEIZE UP; SEND UP; SERVE UP; SETTLE UP; SET UP; SET UP HOUSEKEEPING; SEW UP; SHACK UP; SHAKE UP; SHAPE UP; SHINE UP TO; SHOOT UP; SHORE UP; SHOT UP; SHOW UP; SHUT UP; SIGN UP; SIT
UP; SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE; SIZE UP; SLIP UP; SLOW UP; SMELL UP; SNAP UP; SOAK UP; SOFTEN UP; SOMEBODY UP THERE LOVES ME; SPEAK OUT (UP); SPEED UP; SPIT UP; SPRUCE UP; SQUARE UP; STACK UP; STAND UP; STAND UP AND BE COUNTED; STAND UP FOR; STAND UP TO; STAND UP WITH; START UP; STEAMED UP; STEP UP; STICK UP; STIR UP; STIR UP A HORNETS' NEST; STOP UP; STRAIGHTEN UP; STRAIGHT UP; STRIKE UP; STRING UP; SUCK UP TO; SUIT UP; SUM UP; TAKE UP; TAKE UP A COLLECTION; TAKE UP ARMS; TAKE UP FOR; TAKE UP ON; TAKE UP SPACE; TAKE UP WHERE ONE LEFT OFF; TAKE UP WITH; TALK UP; TANK UP; TEAM UP WITH; THINK UP; THROW UP; THROW UP ONE'S HANDS; THUMBS UP; TIE UP; TIME IS UP; TONE DOWN (UP); TOOL UP; (UP) TO THE HILT; TOUCH UP; TRADE DOWN (UP); TRIAL BALLOON, SEND UP A; TRIP UP; TRUMP UP; TUNE UP; TURN UP; TURN UP ONE'S NOSE; TURN UP ONE'S TOES; TURN UP THE HEAT; TURN UP TRUMPS; WAIT UP; WAKE-UP CALL; WARM UP; WASH UP; WHAT'S COOKING (UP); WHAT'S (UP) WITH; WHIP UP; WHOOP IT UP; WIND UP; WISE UP; WORKED UP; WORK ONE'S WAY (UP); WORK UP;
WRAPPED UP; WRAP UP; WRITE UP. Also see under UPPER.
up a creek Also, up shit creek; up the creek (without a paddle). In trouble, in a serious predicament, as in If the check doesn't arrive today I'm up a creek, or The car wouldn't start, so I was up the creek without a paddle. This slangy idiom conjures up the image of a stranded canoeist with no way of moving (paddling) the canoe. President Harry S. Truman used the first term in a letter in 1918. The first variant is considered vulgar.
up against
Contending or confronted with, as in I'm up against a strong opponent in this election. This idiom is also put as up against it, which means "in serious difficulty, especially in desperate financial straits." For example, When the collection agency called again, we knew we were up against it.
[Late 1800s]
up and about Also, up and around; up and doing. Active again, especially after an illness or rest, as in They had her up and about just one day after surgery, or I'm so glad you're up and around; we need your help, or It's time to be up and doing. [Early 1800s]
up and at 'em
Get going, get busy, as in Up and at 'em?
there's a lot of work to be done. This colloquial idiom, often uttered as a command, uses at 'em (for "at them") in the general sense of tackling a project, and not in reference to specific persons.
up a tree
In a difficult situation, as in They found the drugs in his suitcase, so he was up a tree. This expression alludes to an animal, such as a raccoon or squirrel, that climbs a tree for refuge from attackers, which then surround the tree so it cannot come down. [Colloquial; early 1800s]
up for grabs
Available to anyone, as in Now that he's resigned, his job is up for grabs. This term alludes to something being thrown in the air for anyone to grasp or catch. [Colloquial; 1920s]
up front
1. In the forward section, as of an airplane or theater. For example, We'd like two seats as far up front as possible. [First half of 1900s] 2. Paid in advance, as in We need at least half of the money for the production up front. [Colloquial; c. 1930] 3. Candid, direct, as in Now tell me straight up front what you think of this outfit. [Second half of 1900s]
up in arms
Angry, rebellious, as in The town was up in arms over the state's plan to allow commercial flights at the air base. This idiom originally referred to an armed rebellion and was so used from the late 1500s. Its figurative use dates from about 1700.
up in the air
Not settled, uncertain, as in The proposal to build a golf course next to the airport is still up in the air. This metaphoric expression likens something floating in the air to an unsettled matter. Put as in the air from the mid-1700s, it acquired up in the first half of the 1900s.
upon
hand. see ACT ON (UPON); CALL ON (UPON); CHANCE ON (UPON); COME ACROSS (UPON); COME ON (UPON); COUNT ON (UPON); DAWN ON (UPON); DWELL ON (UPON); ENTER ON (UPON); FALL BACK ON (UPON); FALL ON (UPON); GROW ON (UPON); HARD ON (UPON); HIT ON (UPON); INCUMBENT UPON; LIGHT ON (UPON); ONCE UPON A TIME; PITCH ON (UPON); PLAY ON (UPON); PUT UPON; SEIZE ON (UPON); SET AT (UPON); TAKE IT UPON ONESELF; WAIT ON (UPON); WEIGH ON (UPON); WORK ON (UPON).
up one's alley
hand. see under RIGHT UP ONE'S ALLEY.
up one's sleeve
hand. see CARD UP ONE'S SLEEVE.
up on something, be
Be well informed or up-to-date about something, as in I'm not up on the latest models of cars. [Colloquial]
upper
hand. In addition to the idioms beginning with UPPER, also see KEEP A STIFF UPPER
LIP; ON ONE'S UPPERS.
upper crust
The highest social class, as in She wanted badly to be one of the upper crust but it wasn't going to happen. This term alludes to the choicest part of a pie or loaf of bread. [First half of 1800s]
upper hand Also, whip hand. A dominating or controlling position, as in Once you let Jeff get the upper hand there'll be no stopping him, or When it comes to checkers, my son-in-law generally has the whip hand. The first term alludes to an ancient game in which each player in turn grasps a stick with one hand, beginning from the bottom, and the last who can put his hand at the top wins. Its figurative use dates from the late 1400s. The variant alludes to the driver who holds the whip in a horse-drawn vehicle; it was being used figuratively by the late 1600s.
upper story
The head or brain, as in He's not all there in the upper story. This expression transfers the literal sense of a higher floor in a multistory building to the top portion of the human body. Richard Bentley used it in A Dissertation on the Epistles of Phalaris (1699), where he compares a man with