{adv. phr.} In one’s power or control. •/If one
marriage partner always wants to keep the other person under his or her heel,
it is not a happy or democratic arrangement and may lead to a divorce./
[under one’s nose]
or [under the nose of]{adv. phr.},
{informal} In sight of; in an easily seen or noticeable place. •/The
thief walked out of the museum with the painting, right under the nose of the
guards./ •/When Jim gave up trying to find a pen, he saw three right under
his nose on the desk./
[under one’s own steam]
{adv. phr.}, {informal} By one’s own
efforts; without help. •/The boys got to Boston under their own steam and
took a bus the rest of the way./ •/We didn’t think he could do it, but
Bobby finished his homework under his own steam./
[under one’s skin]
See: GET UNDER ONE’S SKIN.
[under one’s spell]
{adv. phr.} Unable to resist one’s influence.
•/From the first moment they saw each other, Peter was under Nancy’s
spell./
[under one’s thumb]
or [under the thumb]{adj.} or {adv. phr.}
Obedient to you; controlled by you; under your power. •/The Jones family is
under the thumb of the mother./ •/Jack is a bully. He keeps all the younger
children under his thumb./ •/The mayor is so popular that he has the whole
town under his thumb./ Compare: JUMP THROUGH THE HOOP.
[under one’s wing]
{adv. phr.} Under the care or protection of.
•/Helen took the new puppy under her wing./ •/The boys stopped teasing
the new student when Bill took him under his wing./ Compare: IN TOW.
[under orders]
{adv. phr.} Not out of one’s own desire or one’s own
free will; obligatorily; not freely. •/"So you were a Nazi prison guard? "
the judge asked. "Yes, your Honor," the man answered, "but I was acting under
orders and not because I wished to harm anyone."/
[under pain of]
See: ON PAIN OF also UNDER PAIN OF.
[under protest]
{adv. phr.} Against one’s wish; unwillingly. •/"I’ll
go with you all right," she said to the kidnapper, "but I want it clearly
understood that I do so under protest."/
[understand]
See: GIVE ONE TO UNDERSTAND.
[under the circumstances]
also [in the circumstances]{adv. phr.}
In the existing situation; in the present condition; as things are. •/In the
circumstances, Father couldn’t risk giving up his job./ •/Under the
circumstances, the stagecoach passengers had to give the robbers their
money./
[under the collar]
See: HOT UNDER THE COLLAR.
[under the counter]
{adv. phr.}, {informal} Secretly (bought or
sold). •/That book has been banned, but there is one place you can get it
under the counter./ •/The liquor dealer was arrested for selling beer under
the counter to teenagers./ — Also used like an adjective, with hyphens.
•/During World War II, some stores kept scarce things hidden for
under-the-counter-sales to good customers./