U Idioms
Idioms Index | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ugly duckling
- an ugly or plain child who grows up to be pretty and attractive
She was an ugly duckling when she was a child but now she is very beautiful.under a cloud
- under suspicion, not trusted
The politician has been under a cloud over the possibility of taking bribes.under a cloud
- depressed, sad
She has been under a cloud of depression since her cat died.under cover
- hidden, concealed
The police officer went under cover to look for the drug dealers.under fire
- being shot at or attacked, under (verbal) attack
The owner of the company is under fire for not paying his employees a fair salary.under one's belt
- in one's experience, memory or possession
When he has more experience as a cook under his belt he will begin to look for a job.under one's belt
- in one's stomach
After he has a big breakfast under his belt he is ready for work.under one's breath
- in a whisper, with a low voice
He was talking under his breath in the movie theater and someone complained.under one's nose
- in sight of, in an easily seen or noticeable place
He found his driver's license right under his nose where he had left it.under one's own steam
- by one's own efforts, without help
He was able to go home under his own steam even though he was feeling very sick.under one's thumb
- obedient to someone, controlled by someone
He is only an assistant salesman but he has his boss under his thumb.under one's wing
- under the care or protection of
He took the new employee under his wing to help him in the new job.under the counter
- secretly bought or sold
The drugs are being sold under the counter although the government has not given its approval.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
- in secret and usually illegal
He paid some money under the table in order to get his product exported into the country.under the weather
- feel ill (but not seriously ill)
He is feeling under the weather so he is going to bed early tonight.under wraps
- not allowed to be seen until the right time, in secrecy
The new car was still under wraps when the auto show started.unearthly hour
- absurdly early or inconvenient
We got up at an unearthly hour this morning so we could get ready to go camping.until hell freezes over
- forever, for an eternity
He said that he would not talk to his girlfriend again until hell freezes over.up against
- close to
The ladder was standing up against the tree in the yard.up against
- confronted with
He was up against a lot of problems when he went to university but recently he is doing very well.up and about
- recovered from an illness
He has been up and about for a couple of days since he left the hospital.up for grabs
- available for anyone to try to get, ready to be competed for
The new championship of the city is up for grabs.up front
- honestly, correctly
He was very up front when giving me the information about the new office.up in arms
- equipped with guns or weapons and ready to fight, very angry and ready to fight
The villagers were up in arms over the proposal to take some of their land away from them.up in the air
- not settled, undecided
Whether or not I will be able to go to London is still up in the air.up one's alley
- something one is good at or enjoys
Computer programming is right up his alley and he is very good at it.up one's sleeve
- kept secretly ready for the right time or for a time when needed
He probably has something up his sleeve and will be able to get a job when he needs one.upper crust
- richest, most famous or important people in a certain place, the highest class
The private club was full of what looked like the upper crust of the city.upper hand
- controlling power, advantage
The union members have the upper hand in the negotiations with the company.ups and downs
- alternate good and bad fortune
He is having a few ups and downs but generally he is doing well.upset the applecart
- ruin or spoil a plan or idea
Try not to upset the applecart as we have spent a lot of time working on this project.up the creek
- in trouble
She is up the creek now that she has lost her passport.up the river/creek with no paddle
- in trouble and unable to do anything about it
I think that we are up the river with no paddle now that our car has run out of gasoline.uptight
- worried, irritated, excessively eager or anxious
My sister has been uptight all week because of her exams.up to
- as far as, as deep or as high as, close to, approaching
The water in the swimming pool came up to my waist.up to
- doing or planning secretly, ready for mischief
I don't know what he was up to last night but it was probably something bad.up to
- depending on
It is up to his wife whether or not he goes to the movie.up to it/the job
- capable of, fit for, equal to
If he is up to it we should let him drive the truck to the new office.up to/till/until
- until
Up until last week he had never been inside of a bowling alley.up to here with
- sick of someone's continual bad or irritating behavior
I have had it up to here with his always coming late to work.up to one's ears in work
- have a lot of work to do
I'd like to go with you but I'm up to my ears in work at the moment.up to par/scratch/snuff/the mark
- meeting normal standards, equal to the usual level or quality
His work was not up to par and he was asked to leave and look for another job.up to someone to do something
- be responsible to take care of something
It is up to her to decide when the meeting will start.(in) up to the chin
- very busy with, deeply involved in something, guilty of
He has been in up to the chin in the project to build a new convention center.used to
- accustomed to
He is not used to living in such a big city.use one's head/bean/noodle/noggin
- think carefully about
You should use your head a little more and try not to make the same mistake again.use up
- use until nothing is left, spend or consume completely
They used up all of the paper in the copy machine this morning.
