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The U drawer
24 phrases beginning with U.
- Under bare poles With every sail furled; figuratively, stripped of the usual means of support or progress. Technical or literary. It does not mean that a vessel has no…
- Under false colours While concealing one's true identity, allegiance or intentions behind a deceptive appearance. Colour is British spelling and color American. The…
- Under the gun Under strong pressure, attack or an urgent deadline. The expression is informal and especially common in North American English.
- Under the table Done secretly or illegally, hidden from view.
- Under the weather Slightly ill, tired, or otherwise not feeling one's usual self.
- Under the wire Just making it in time, at the last tick.
- Under your thumb Being controlled or dominated by someone, submissive to their will like a digit pressed firmly down, with no room to wriggle free.
- Understood the assignment Praise meaning someone grasped exactly what a situation demanded and delivered it impressively, meeting or beating expectations. Said of outfits…
- Unicorn (startup) In business jargon, a privately held startup company valued at more than one billion US dollars. The name plays on the mythical beast's rarity: when…
- Up a blind alley Stuck in a dead-end, no way out.
- Up a gum tree In a tricky or stuck spot, no way out.
- Up and running Fully operational or underway, ticking smoothly.
- Up in arms Riled up or ready to fight, hot and mad.
- Up in the air Something uncertain or unresolved, still open to change or decision. It conveys ambiguity or suspense-plans, outcomes, emotions-hanging in limbo, with…
- Up the ante To raise the stakes or demands, pushing higher.
- Up the boohai In a remote, out-of-the-way or vaguely unknown place. Informal and comic. Boohai has several historical spellings, reflecting the reshaping of the…
- Up the creek In a tough or hopeless spot, stuck with no easy way out.
- Up the duff Pregnant. This British and Australian slang expression is informal and can sound coarse, dismissive, or offensive depending on the speaker and…
- Up the wall Driven mad or wild, all frayed.
- Up to scratch Meeting a decent standard or readiness, good enough to pass muster.
- Up to the mark Good enough or on par, up there.
- Up to your ears Buried deep in something, swamped.
- Up to your neck Deep in a mess or load, swamped.
- Up your sleeve Held secretly in reserve, ready to pull out.