under
- adverb
- /ˈʌndər/
- When you went under, I gave you some sleep mix.
- go under
Examples
-
This makes us all realize the kind of pressure these drivers are under.
-
People need to know what kind of threat they're under.
-
Certainly not interested enough to come out from under and get involved with anything.
Fiction book (2000) -
You don't understand the pressure I'm under, thinking this guy's perfect.
-
Ice caps gonna melt, water is gonna rise... and everything south of the levee is going under.
-
His business went under after struggling for several years during the recession.
-
Many start-ups fail and go under due to lack of funding.
-
After the scandal, the politician's reputation fell under scrutiny.
Idioms
- Informal
To annoy someone a lot by small things another person does
- Informal
To say something in a very quiet voice so other people cannot hear
People feel very tense and worried because many difficult things are happening
- Informal
Something that happened in the past and is no longer important
- Informal
No longer alive and buried in the ground, or completely covered by something like water
- NSFW
You are in bed with the sheets pulled over you to be private or close with someone
- Informal
Drink more alcohol than another person until they become drunk
To keep your talents or good work hidden instead of showing them to others
Compounds
- Formal
A formal written agreement signed with a special stamp that has stronger force in law
Surface Forms
Etymology
Under began as a word for 'below', and people used that 'below' image to show being 'in' a state or under someone’s power. That's why we say someone is under for an operation or under control when they are in that state.