idiom

under the stars

Meaning

in the open air, outside, especially at night

Example

We slept **under the stars** by the lake.

idiom

under the radar

Meaning

unnoticed or undetected

Example

He stayed **under the radar** during the investigation.

phrasal-verb

unwind with

Meaning

to relax by doing something enjoyable

Example

I usually **unwind with** some music after dinner.

idiom

under the gun

Meaning

under pressure to perform or complete something

Example

We were **under the gun** to meet the deadline for the report.

idiom

under someone's thumb

Meaning

completely under someone's control

Example

He's **under his boss's thumb** and can't make his own decisions.

idiom

under the hood

Meaning

behind the surface; the underlying mechanism or system

Example

Developers love to see what’s **under the hood** of a new app.

B2 idiom

up in the air

Uncertain or undecided

Meaning

Uncertain or undecided

Example

The plans for the project are still up in the air.

idiom

under investigation

Meaning

being examined or looked into by authorities for possible wrongdoing

Example

The suspect is currently **under investigation** for his involvement in the crime.

phrasal-verb

upload to

Meaning

to transfer data or files from a local device to a server or the internet

Example

You can **upload to** Google Drive for easy sharing.

idiom

under the weather

Meaning

feeling ill or unwell

Example

I didn’t go to work because I felt **under the weather**.

idiom

Unicorn company

Meaning

A startup valued at over one billion dollars.

Example

Becoming a **unicorn company** is every founder’s dream.

idiom

under the knife

Meaning

to have surgery

Example

She has to go **under the knife** for her knee problem.

phrasal-verb

use sparingly

Meaning

to use something in small or limited amounts

Example

Please **use** the office supplies **sparingly** until the next order arrives.

idiom

up against the wall

Meaning

to be in a very difficult or desperate situation

Example

The company is **up against the wall** financially after the recent losses.

idiom

under construction

Meaning

in the process of being developed or built

Example

Our new website is still **under construction**.

idiom

under oath

Meaning

having sworn to tell the truth in court

Example

He lied **under oath** and was charged with perjury.

idiom

united we stand, divided we fall

Meaning

people are stronger when they work together

Example

Remember, **united we stand, divided we fall**.

idiom

Under the spotlight

Meaning

Receiving public attention or scrutiny.

Example

The editor has been **under the spotlight** after the controversial article.

idiom

user journey

Meaning

the complete experience a user has with a brand or product

Example

Mapping the **user journey** helps improve customer satisfaction.

idiom

under a cloud

Meaning

being suspected or in trouble

Example

He left the company **under a cloud** after the scandal.

idiom

under the pump

Meaning

to be under a lot of pressure or stress

Example

The team has been **under the pump** to meet the project deadline.

phrasal-verb

upgrade to

Meaning

to change to a newer or better version of something

Example

Users are encouraged to **upgrade to** the latest version of the software.

idiom

under the microscope

Meaning

being examined very closely

Example

The new policy is **under the microscope** by analysts.

idiom

use up

Meaning

to consume something completely

Example

We’ve **used up** all the printer paper already.

idiom

upgrade your thinking

Meaning

to improve your thought process or mindset

Example

To adapt to AI trends, you must **upgrade your thinking**.

idiom

upload your brain

Meaning

to transfer or store one’s thoughts, knowledge, or consciousness digitally

Example

One day we might be able to **upload our brain** into the cloud.

idiom

upgrade your mindset

Meaning

to adapt one’s thinking for modern changes or innovation

Example

In the age of AI, it’s vital to **upgrade your mindset**.

idiom

under someone's nose

Meaning

in an obvious place or situation where someone should have noticed

Example

The keys were **under my nose** the whole time on the kitchen table.

idiom

under false pretenses

Meaning

by lying or misleading someone

Example

He got the job **under false pretenses**.

idiom

up to speed

Meaning

to have the latest information or be fully informed

Example

I’ll get you **up to speed** on the new system tomorrow.

phrasal-verb

use less of

Meaning

to decrease the amount of something you use

Example

Try to **use less of** water while washing dishes.

idiom

under the table

Meaning

done secretly or dishonestly, often involving money

Example

He was paid **under the table** to avoid taxes.

idiom

under pressure

Meaning

to be in a stressful situation with a lot of demands

Example

She performs well even when she’s **under pressure**.

idiom

upload your thoughts

Meaning

to express or share one’s ideas online

Example

People love to **upload their thoughts** on social media.