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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

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BOTTOM 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

to the network that secretly transported runaway slaves through the northern states to Canada. It was revived more than a century later for similar escape routes.

under lock and key

Securely locked up, as in He keeps the wine under lock and key. [First half of 1500s]

under one's belt

Experienced or achieved, as in Once a medical student has anatomy under her belt, she'll have much less to memorize. This metaphoric expression likens food that has been consumed to an experience that has been digested. [Colloquial; first half of 1800s]

under one's breath

Softly, in an undertone or whisper, as in "I can't stand one more minute of that music," she muttered under her breath. This idiom, first recorded in 1832, is probably a hyperbole, alluding to a sound that is softer than breathing.

under one's feet

In one's path or in one's way, as in Come on, children, get out from under my feet.

under one's hat

hand. see KEEP UNDER ONE'S HAT.

under one's nose

Right there, in plain view, as in Your keys are on the table, right under your nose. This expression is generally a reminder that something one cannot find is actually there. [c. 1600]

under one's own steam

Independently, without help, as in For two years I published the quarterly newsletter under my own steam. This expression uses steam in the sense of "driving power," as in a steam engine. [Early 1900s]

under one's skin

hand. see GET UNDER ONE'S SKIN.

under pain of

hand. see ON PAIN OF.

under par

hand. see BELOW PAR.

under someone's spell

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

mortgage. This expression alludes to the auctioneer's hammer, which is rapped to indicate a completed transaction. [Mid-1800s]

under the impression

Thinking, assuming, or believing something, as in I was under the impression that they were coming today. This idiom often suggests that the idea or belief one had is mistaken. [Mid-1800s]

under the influence

Impaired functioning owing to alcohol consumption, as in He was accused of driving under the influence. This expression, from legal jargon, is short for under the influence of intoxicating liquor and implies that one is not completely drunk. Since it is nearly always applied to drivers suspected or so accused, it has given rise to the police acronym DUI, for "driving under the influence."

[Second half of 1800s]

under the knife

Undergoing surgery, as in He was awake the entire time he was under the

knife. The phrase is often put as go under the knife, meaning "be operated on," as in When do you go under the knife? Knife standing for "surgery" was first recorded in 1880.

under the sun

hand. see under EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK; NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.

under the table

In secret, as in They paid her under the table so as to avoid taxes. This term alludes to money being passed under a table in some shady transaction, such as a bribe. [Mid-1900s] Also see

UNDER THE COUNTER.

under the weather

Ailing, ill; also, suffering from a hangover. For example, She said she was under the weather and couldn't make it to the meeting. This expression presumably alludes to the influence of the weather on one's health. [Early 1800s] The same term is sometimes used as a euphemism for being drunk, as in

After four drinks, Ellen was a bit under the weather.

under the wire

Barely, scarcely, just within the limit, as in This book will be finished just under the wire. This term comes from horse racing, where the wire marks the finish line. [First half of 1900s] Also see

DOWN TO THE WIRE.

under way

1. In motion, as in The ship got under way at noon. [c. 1930] 2. Already started, in progress, as in

Plans are under way to expand. [c. 1930]

under wraps

Concealed or secret, as in The design for the new plant is under wraps. This idiom frequently is put as keep under wraps, meaning "keep secret," as in Let's keep this theory under wraps until we've tested it sufficiently. It alludes to covering something completely by wrapping it up. [1930s]

unglued

hand. see under COME APART AT THE SEAMS.

unheard of

Very unusual, extraordinary, as in It's unheard of to have all one's money refunded two years after the purchase. This expression alludes to a circumstance so unusual that it has never been heard of. [Late 1500s]

unkindest cut

The worst insult, ultimate treachery, as in And then, the unkindest cut of all?

my partner walks out on me just when the deal is about to go through. This expression was invented by Shakespeare in describing Julius Caesar's stabbing to death by his friends in Julius Caesar (3:2): "This was the most unkindest cut of all."

unknown quantity

An unpredictable person or thing, as in We don't know how the new pitcher will do?

he's an unknown quantity. This expression comes from algebra, where it signifies an unknown numerical value. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1800s.

unlikely

hand. see IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT.

unseen

hand. see SIGHT UNSEEN.

unstuck

hand. see under COME APART AT THE SEAMS.

until

hand. see PUT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW; TALK ONE'S ARM OFF (UNTIL BLUE IN THE FACE). Also see under TILL.

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

"brains . . . in his head" to a man who has "furniture in his upper story."

upright

hand. see

uproar

hand. see

BOLT UPRIGHT.

MAKE A SCENE (AN UPROAR).

ups and downs

Good times and bad times, successes and failures, as in We've had our ups and downs but things are going fairly well now. This term was first recorded in 1659.

upset the applecart

Spoil carefully laid plans, as in Now don't upset the applecart by revealing where we're going. This expression started out as upset the cart, used since Roman times to mean "spoil everything." The precise idiom dates from the late 1700s.

upside

hand. In addition to the idiom beginning with UPSIDE, also see TURN UPSIDE DOWN.

upside the head

Against the side of someone's head, as in With those nightsticks the police are known for knocking suspects upside the head. [Slang; second half of 1900s]

upstairs

hand. see KICK UPSTAIRS.

uptake

hand. see ON THE UPTAKE.

up the creek Also, up shit creek. hand. See UP A CREEK.

up the river

To or in prison, as in They sent him up the river for five years. This phrase originally referred to Sing-Sing Prison, on the Hudson River about 30 miles north of New York City. So used from about 1890 on, it was broadened to apply to any prison by the early 1900s.

up the wall

hand. see under DRIVE SOMEONE CRAZY.

up to

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