The American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms

by Christine Ammer

  uncalled for Not justified, undeserved, as in That rude remark was uncalled for. [Early 1800s] Also see CALL FOR, def. 3.

  uncertain → See IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS.

  uncle → See CRY UNCLE; DUTCH UNCLE.

  under → In addition to the idioms beginning with UNDER, also see BELOW (UNDER) PAR; BORN UNDER A LUCKY STAR; BUCKLE UNDER; COME UNDER; CUT THE GROUND FROM UNDER; DON’T LET THE GRASS GROW UNDER ONE’S FEET; EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK (UNDER THE SUN); FALL UNDER; FALSE COLORS, SAILING UNDER; GET UNDER SOMEONE’S SKIN; GO UNDER; HIDE ONE’S LIGHT UNDER A BUSHEL; HOT UNDER THE COLLAR; KEEP UNDER ONE’S HAT; KNOCK THE BOTTOM OUT OF (PROPS OUT FROM UNDER); KNUCKLE UNDER; LIGHT A FIRE UNDER; NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN; OF (UNDER) AGE; ON (UNDER) PAIN OF; 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 → See under OF AGE.

  under any circumstances Also, under no circumstances. → 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 → 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 → 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 → See GET UNDER SOMEONE’S SKIN.

  under pain of → See ON PAIN OF.

  under par → 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 → 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 → 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 DRINK LIKE A FISH; 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 meeti
ng. 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 → 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 → See IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT.

  unseen → See SIGHT UNSEEN.

  unstuck → See under COME APART AT THE SEAMS.

  until → See (NEVER) PUT OFF (UNTIL TOMORROW WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY); TALK ONE’S ARM OFF (UNTIL ONE IS BLUE IN THE FACE). Also see under TILL.

  untimely → See COME TO AN (UNTIMELY) END.

  unto → See DO UNTO OTHERSAS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU; LAW UNTO ONESELF.

  unturned → 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 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 → 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 ON (UPON); LIGHT ON (UPON); ONCE UPON A TIME; PITCH ON (UPON); PLAY ON (UPON); PUT UPON; SEIZE ON (UPON); SET AT (UPON); SET ON (UPON); TAKE IT UPON ONESELF; WAIT ON (UPON); WEIGH ON (UPON); WORK ON (UPON).

  up one’s alley → See under RIGHT UP ONE’S ALLEY.

  up one’s sleeve → 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 → 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 → See BOLT UPRIGHT.

  uproar → See 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 → 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 → See KICK UPSTAIRS.

  uptake → See ON THE UPTAKE.


  up the creek Also, up shit creek. → 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 → See under DRIVE SOMEONE CRAZY.

  up to 1. As far as or approaching a certain point. For example, The water was nearly up to the windowsill, or They allowed us up to two hours to finish the test, or This seed should yield up to 300 bushels per acre. [c. A.D. 950] 2. be up to. Be able to do or deal with, as in When I got home, she asked if I was up to a walk on the beach. This usage is often put negatively, that is, not be up to something, as in He’s not up to a long drive. [Late 1700s] 3. Occupied with, engaged in, as in What have you been up to lately? This usage can mean “devising’’ or “scheming,’’ as in We knew those two were up to something. It also appears in up to no good, meaning “occupied with or devising something harmful,’’ as in I’m sure those kids are up to no good. [First half of 1800s] 4. Dependent on, as in The success of this project is up to us. [c. 1900] Also see the following idioms beginning with UP TO.

  up to a point To some extent, somewhat, as in I can work weekends up to a point, but after a month or so I get tired of it. This phrase uses point in the sense of “a definite position.’’ [Early 1800s]

  up to date → See BRING UP TO DATE.

  up to no good → See UP TO, def. 3.

  up to one’s ears Also, in up to one’s eyes or eyeballs or neck or wazoo. Deeply involved; also, oversupplied, surfeited. For example, I’m up to my ears in work, or He’s in up to his eyes with the in-laws. This hyperbolic and slangy idiom implies one is flooded with something up to those organs. The first was first recorded in 1839; up to the eyes in 1778; to the eyeballs in 1911; to the neck in 1856; to the wazoo in 1981.

  up to one’s old tricks Behaving in one’s usual deceitful or mischievous fashion, as in She’s up to her old tricks, telling her parents one thing and her teachers another, or He’s up to his old tricks, teasing his sisters until they’re in tears. Put as at his old tricks, this idiom was first recorded in 1823.