|
Idiom |
Definition |
Usage |
| ugly duckling |
unattractive |
She was an ugly
duckling when she was a child. |
| UNDER A
CLOUD |
less than entirely trustworthy; suspected of some wrongdoing
The lack of trust implied in the expression may or may not
be justified. |
1. The bank manager discovered that there was money missing
from Mr. Jenkins’ money drawer, and the manager suspected
that Mr. Jenkins took it himself. Mr. Jenkins has been under
a cloud ever since.
2. This administration has been marked by widespread
corruption. Even if they manage to clean it up, the
politicians will always be under a cloud of suspicion. |
| under a cloud |
depressed |
He has been
under a cloud since he lost his job. |
| under cover |
in disguise |
The detective went
under cover to look for the drug dealers. |
| under fire |
being scrutinized |
The owner is
under fire for poor working conditions at the
factory. |
| under one's belt |
completed |
He already has enough
experience as a manager under his belt. |
| under one's belt |
in his stomach |
After he has a big
breakfast under his belt, he is ready for
work. |
| under one's
breath |
quietly |
He was talking
under his breath in the library. |
| under one's nose |
in an obvious place |
He found his wallet
under his nose. |
| under one's own
steam |
without assistance |
He completed the project
under his own steam. |
| under one's wing |
under his care |
He took the new employee
under his wing. |
| UNDER
(SOMEONE’S) THUMB |
under someone’s control
Compare to: tied to (one’s) mother’s apron strings
The expression suggests a dramatic difference between the
person in control and the person who is controlled, the
latter being so small or so weak as to be held down by a
thumb. |
1. Don’t ask Margie to make a change in our work schedule;
she won’t do anything without Larry’s permission. She’s
under Larry’s thumb.
2. Those two young people will never be allowed to make
their own decisions or lead their own lives. Their mother
will always control them. They will always be under their
mother’s thumb. |
| under the
counter |
secretly |
The drugs are being sold
under the counter. |
| under the hammer |
up for sale at an
auction |
The painting went
under the hammer and sold for a very high
price. |
| UNDER
THE TABLE/COUNTER |
secretly or illegally |
1. It is illegal for storekeepers to sell cigarettes or
liquor to children, but some will sell them to children
under the counter.
2. As a private investigator, I sometimes have to slip
someone some money under the table in order to get
information. |
| UNDER
THE WEATHER |
unwell; ill
Antonym: in the pink
Whereas in the pink can be applied to people, animals, or
machines, under the weather is applied only to people or
animals. |
1. John has not been looking very well these days. He’s
under the weather.
2. The children and I have had so many colds this winter.
The whole family has been under the weather for weeks. |
| UNDER
THE WIRE |
just in time before a deadline
Similar to: in the nick of time; down to the wire |
1. The newspaper article was due no later than 4 o’clock and
the editor got it in at exactly 3:59. He got it in right
under the wire.
2. The deadline for applying to the university was the last
day of March. Rachel procrastinated until it was almost too
late, but then she stayed up all night filling out the
application and got it in just under the wire. |
| under wraps |
not allowed to be seen |
The new car was still
under wraps when the auto show started. |
| unearthly hour |
absurdly early |
We got up at an
unearthly hour this morning so we could get ready
to go camping. |
| until hell
freezes over |
for an eternity |
He said that he would
not talk to his friend again until hell freezes over. |
| UNTIL
THE COWS COME HOME |
until the end of the day; for a long time
The expression relates to herds of cows that graze outdoors
during the day and then are brought inside for the night. It
means “all day long.” |
1. When the young boy’s mother refused to give him some
candy, he started to cry. His mother told him he could cry
until the cows come home, but he was not going to get any
candy.
2. I will never be any good at giving speeches. I could
practice until the cows come home, but I’ll never get over
being nervous when I have to stand up in front of a crowd. |
| up against |
in contact with |
The ladder was standing
up against the tree in the yard. |
| up for grabs |
available |
This is a good sale.
Everything is up for grabs. |
| up against |
confronted with |
He was up
against a lot of problems when he went to
university. |
| up and about |
recovered |
She is now up
and about after her injury. |
| up front |
honest |
He was up front
about the condition of the car. |
| UP IN
ARMS |
angry or upset
The expression is often used to describe groups of people
rather than individuals. Arms refers to weapons. Thus the
people are so angry that they are ready to take up weapons
(at least figuratively). |
1. When the government raised the price of flour and sugar
to the point where people could no longer afford them, the
population was up in arms. Much of the population stopped
work and gathered in the streets to protest.
2. The students were up in arms and began to protest against
the school administration’s policies. They marched on the
administration building, carried signs calling for the
president’s resignation, and listened to speeches by the
student leaders. |
| UP IN
THE AIR |
unsettled or undecided |
1. Jack wasn’t sure whether to go to the university or get a
job. His plans were up in the air.
2. I’m up in the air about remodeling my house or selling it
and moving into a bigger one. |
| up
one's alley |
|
|
| up one's sleeve |
something kept secret |
He probably has
something up his sleeve. |
| UPPER
CRUST |
the highest level of society, i.e. people who are separated
from ordinary people as being elite either by economic or
social position, or both
The expression can be used either as an adjective (sentence
1) or as a noun (sentence 2). Dating to the mid-19th
century, this expression comes from the belief that the
upper crust of bread was the best or most desirable part. |
1. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, and the other members
of the English royal family, are members of high society.
They are upper crust.
2. Only people with lots of money and the right social
connections go to that university. It’s a school for the
upper crust. |
| upper hand |
advantage |
The union members have
the upper hand in the negotiations. |
| ups and downs |
moments of good and bad
fortune |
He is having a few
ups and downs but generally he is doing
well. |
| UPSET
THE APPLE CART |
to disturb the status quo; to shake up the existing
situation
Similar to: rock the boat
Whereas rock the boat usually describes a situation in which
the people involved do not want a change, upset the apple
cart can be used to describe any situation.
The expression dates back to the Roman Empire and was
originally ‘upset the cart.’ ‘Apple’ was added by the late
1700s. |
1. Everyone is happy with the situation as it is. If you try
to change it, you’ll be upsetting the apple cart.
2. The new president was installed and immediately upset the
apple cart by appointing his own people to various positions
in the administration. |
| up the creek |
in trouble |
She is up the
creek now that she has lost her homework. |
| UP THE
CREEK (WITHOUT A PADDLE) |
in a bad situation and unable to proceed; in an awkward
position with no easy way out
Synonyms: high and dry; leave (someone) in the lurch
The expression suggests a situation where one is in a canoe
on a small river without the means to navigate. It describes
a situation in which one wants or needs to proceed but lacks
the means. |
1. Charles agreed to finish the report for his study group,
but then discovered that the books he needed were only
available in the library, and the library was closed. He was
up the creek.
2. The city administrators expected to pay for street
repairs from their existing budget but that money ran out
when they had to pay for damages caused by unexpected
storms. They were up the creek without a paddle. |
| up the river
without a paddle |
in trouble and unable to
do anything about it |
She is up the
river without a paddle now that she failed the
class. |
| up to |
as high as |
The snow was up
to her waist. |
| up to |
secretly planning |
She was trying to figure
out what he was up to. |
| up to |
the decision of |
It is up to
his wife whether or not they purchase the house. |
| up to |
until |
She had not been to
Japan up to this year. |
| up to it |
able to do it |
They were not sure if he
was up to it or not. |
| UP TO
SNUFF |
meeting the minimum standard requirements; as good as is
required
Synonym: make the grade
Compare to: cut the mustard |
1. The orchestra didn’t reach its usual high standard last
year but with lots of extra practice this year, it’s finally
up to snuff.
2. I wasn’t very happy with the last batch of dresses that
came off the assembly line. The buttons fell off easily, the
seams were not straight and the quality of the fabric was
poor. The dresses really weren’t up to snuff. |
| up to the job |
able to do it |
They were not sure if he
was up to the job or not. |
| up till |
until |
She had not been to
Japan up till this year. |
| up until |
until |
She had not been to
Japan up until this year. |
| up to one's ears |
very busy |
She is up to her
ears with the project. |
| up to par |
at the usual level |
His work was not
up to par and he was asked to quit his job. |
| up to scratch |
at the usual level |
His work was not
up to scratch and he was asked to quit his job. |
| up to snuff |
at the usual level |
His work was not
up to snuff and he was asked to quit his job. |
| up to the mark |
at the usual level |
His work was not
up to the mark and he was asked to quit his job. |
| up to someone |
her decision |
It is up to her
when it is time to leave. |
| up to the chin |
deeply involved |
He has been up
to the chin in the project. |
| used to |
accustomed to |
She is not used
to living in such a big city. |
| use one's head |
think |
You should use
your head a little more. |
| use one's bean |
think |
You should use
your bean a little more. |
| use one's noodle |
think |
You should use
your noodle a little more. |
| use one's noggin |
think |
You should use
your noggin a little more. |
| USE
(ONE’S) WITS |
to use one’s intelligence, knowledge, or wisdom |
1. Her problem is that she always reacts before considering
what she should do first. She needs to learn to use her wits
more.
2. Use your wits, boy! The answer is clear when you think
about it. |
| use up |
completely use |
They had to use
up the paper before ordering more. |
