Commonly-Used Idioms, Sayings and phrasal verbs - "U" Idioms pdf

unaccustomed to someone or something - not used to someone or something The man was unaccustomed to waking up early in the morning.. under one`s belt - in one`s stomach After he had a bi

U

ugly duckling

- an ugly or plain child who grows up to be attractive

She was an ugly duckling when she was a child but now she is very beautiful

unaccustomed to (someone or something)

- not used to someone or something

The man was unaccustomed to waking up early in the morning

under Idioms

under a cloud

- depressed, sad

She has been under a cloud of depression since her cat died

under a cloud (of suspicion)

- not trusted, suspected of doing something wrong

The politician has been under a cloud of suspicion over the possibility of taking bribes

under arrest

- arrested by the police before being charged with a crime

The three men were under arrest for robbing a bank

under certain circumstances/conditions

- depending on or influenced by something

Under certain circumstances the children were permitted to use the indoor stadium for practice

under (close) scrutiny

- being watched or examined closely

The business owner was under close scrutiny after the accounting scandal

under construction

- being built or repaired

The hotel was still under construction, two years after it began

under control

- not out of control, manageable

The fire was under control after the fire department arrived

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 oath

- having taken an oath (solemn promise)

The man was under oath when he spoke before the judge

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 had a big breakfast under his belt he was 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 somebody complained

under one`s nose

- within sight of someone, easily seen or found

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 (someone)

He took the new employee under his wing to help him in the new job

under pressure

- experiencing something that causes stress or anxiety

The boy's father is always under pressure at work

under the circumstances

- because of the circumstances

The girl was very sick and under the circumstances did not have to take the exam

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 influence of (something)

- experiencing the effects of alcohol/drugs/a controlling power or person

The driver was under the influence of alcohol when he hit the young child

under the sun

- anywhere on earth at all, everywhere

We looked for my wallet everywhere under the sun

under the table

- in secret and usually illegal

He paid some money under the table in order to get his product imported 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 the wire

- just barely in time or on time

We were able to send in our payment for the school fees just under the wire

under wraps

- not allowed to be seen until the right time, in secrecy

The new car was still under wraps when the car 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

unfamiliar territory

- an area of knowledge unknown to the speaker

Trying to pilot an airplane was unfamiliar territory for the flight attendant

unknown quantity

- a person or thing which nobody knows much about

The new mayor was an unknown quantity and nobody knew what to expect

until all hours (of the day or night)

- until very late

We stayed up until all hours playing cards

until hell freezes over

- forever

He said that he would not talk to his girlfriend again until hell freezes over

until the cows come home

- until very late

It is my birthday today so I plan to stay out and party until the cows come home

up Idioms

up a blind alley

- on a route that leads nowhere, at a dead end

The police were up a blind alley in their search for evidence of the crime

up against

- having trouble with

He came up against many problems when he went to university

up against (something)

- close to

The ladder was standing up against the tree in the yard

up and about

- recovered from an illness

He has been up and about for a couple of days since he left the hospital

up and around

- out of bed and moving about, moving from one place to another

I was up and around before 6:00 AM this morning

up and at 'em/them

- get active and get busy

We will be up and at 'em very early tomorrow morning

up and away

- up into the air and into flight

My parents got on the airplane and were up and away before we knew it

up-and-coming

- new

The woman is an up-and-coming singer

up for (something)

- enthusiastic about something

The entire school was up for the final football game of the season

up for grabs

- available for anyone

The new championship of the city is up for grabs

up front

- honest, correct

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

The villagers were up in arms over the proposal to take some of their land away from them

up in the air (about something)

- not settled, undecided

Whether or not I will be able to go to London is still up in the air

up in years

- old, elderly

Although our grandparents are up in years they still have much energy

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 find a job when he needs one

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

up to

- as far as, as deep or as high as

The water in the swimming pool came up to my waist

up to

- until

Up to last week I had never been inside a bowling alley

There were probably up to thirty people at the meeting

up-to-date

- modern, the latest standards of fashion

The kitchen in our apartment is not up-to-date at all

up to here with (someone/something)

- sick of some continual bad or irritating behavior

I have had it up to here with his coming late to work

up to it/the job

- capable or fit for something

If he is up to it we can let him drive the truck to the new office

up to no good

- doing something bad

The boys were up to no good after school

up to one's chin

- very busy with, deeply involved in something

He has been up to his chin in the project to build a new convention center

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

- meeting normal standards, equal to the usual level or quality

The man's work was not up to par and he was asked to leave his job

up to (someone) to decide (something)

- to be responsible to choose or decide something

It is up to the manager to decide when the meeting will start

up to (someone) to do (something)

- to be responsible to do something

It is up to the manager to clean the apartment lobby

up to (something)

- occupied in or planning some activity that is often bad

I don`t know what he was up to last night but it was probably something bad

up to the mark

- meeting normal standards, equal to the usual level or quality

The work was not up to the mark and the company would not pay for it

- the very latest or most recent

We always try to get an up-to-the-minute weather report before we go skiing

up until

- until

I was in the library up until midnight last night

upper crust

- rich and famous people, the highest class of people

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 their negotiations with the company

ups and downs

- good fortune 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

upshot of (something)

- result or outcome of something

The upshot of the meeting was that we would no longer continue to keep the store open

uptight

- worried, irritated, anxious

My sister has been uptight all week because of her exams

use Idioms

use every trick in the book

- use every method possible

The apartment manager used every trick in the book to try and make the young family leave

use one`s head/bean/noodle/noggin

- think carefully about (something)

You should use your head a little more and try not to make the same mistake again

use some elbow grease

- use some effort

We used a lot of elbow grease to clean the oven

use (someone or something) as an excuse

- blame someone or something

My friend always uses his busy schedule as an excuse not to help us

use strong language

- use abusive or forceful language

The teacher used very strong language to make the children behave

use up

- use until nothing is left, spend or consume completely

They used up all of the paper in the copy machine this morning

used to

- accustomed to

He is not used to living in such a big city