under the gun—acting under a lot of pressure: They did a great job, especially working under the gun with only a few months to get it organized and executed . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase under the knife—used of smb. undergoing a surgical operation: She was under the knife for several hours. When she came out of surgery, doctors said she was fine. under cover • undercover under cover—1. under a shelter protecting from rain, wind, etc: Monsieur had better come under cover . The “Bosches” are still firing this way. 2. (of police or secret service agents) oper- ating in secret: He worked under cover … in some of the most important theaters of the Cold War. 3. (dated or formal) in an envelope: The letter was passed to the Attorney General who sent a copy of the letter under cover asking for comment. Cf.: under plain cover—in an envelope which has no indication of the firm, the contents, etc.: Credit card statements do not show our company name and all products are shipped under plain cover . Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase under wraps— used of smth. kept secret: The investiga- tion apparently cleared the officers of any wrongdoing but the details are still under wraps . undercover—(attrib.) 1. situated under the roof; sheltered from the elements: Undercover storage for vehicles is available for either short or long term requirements. 2. (of methods, agents, etc.) underground; secret: The menace of recruitment to undercover prostitution on a large scale cannot be ignored. under ground • underground under ground —below the surface of the ground: Attending college while working under ground is not a dream come true, but conductors are well paid. underground—(attrib.) 1. situated or taking place below the surface of the ground: This difference could have been the result of the unaccounted for flow of underground waters into the lake. 2. (of a political movement, etc.) concealed and acting in secret: Until recently people suspected of underground activity had been arrested and court-martialed. 3. separate from a prevailing social or artistic environment: Although this form of underground art rarely makes it into the museums, it has attracted huge interest in recent years. under heaven • under the sky under heaven—1. on earth; in the world: You travel for twenty miles over one of the most unfortunate, desolate coun- tries under heaven . 2. is used to emphasize an interrogative sentence: And why under heaven should one write a history of anything — even a tramp dog!— without a sense of humor! under the sky—1. (also: under the open sky) in the open air; not inside a house or building: I will sleep under the sky rather than stay in the city for another night. 2. = under heaven 1: Am I deceived, I who have known more liars than any man under the sky ? Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase under a cloud— suspected of smth. reprehensible: He leaves the service, possibly under a cloud …. The inference in the club think tank was that the cloud was sexual. under one’s arm • under one’s hand under one’s arm—held between the arm and the body: Alfredo wandered about the snow-covered streets with the manuscript of his last tragedy under his arm . under one’s hand—(of a document) authenticated by a per- son’s signature: Lady Bellasis gained so much on the duke, that he gave her a promise under his hand to marry her. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the compound underhand—(also: underhanded) 1. done in a secret or stealthy manner: Their influence must have been exercised in a purely underhand way. 2. not legal; corrupt or marked by deception: We have found that banks are employing increas- ingly underhand methods to avoid their responsibility. under the arm • under-arm under the arm —1. held between the arm and the body: The hat could be worn or carried under the arm at all times except in the presence of the King. 2. (sl.) inferior; of poor quality: I read no matter how bad the book and some are right under the arm . under-arm —(attrib.) 1. that can be carried “under the arm”: Whatever she carries about with her she keeps in an “under- arm bag.” 2. (sl.) pornographic; obscene: One of the first things Randle asked him was did he make any under-arm films. under the color of something • under the colors of something under the color of something—under pretext or pretence of smth.: A lot of what this unscrupulous politician writes under the color of truth is nothing but a pack of lies. under the colors of something—supporting a particular cause, movement, or country: Northmour was killed fighting under the colors of Garibaldi for the liberation of the Tyrol. under the daisies • under the rose under the daisies —(euph.) dead and buried: He gradually declined for twelve months, and next harvest-time he was under the daisies . under the rose —in secret; in strict confidence: Any business transacted privately, or under the rose , is said to be done upon the sly. under the wire • under wire under the wire—just before a deadline; at the last possible moment: Nancy mailed off her application, and it got in just under the wire . Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase over the wire—(dated) speaking on the telephone (also: on the wire): The second advertisement shows a Victorian- looking man speaking over the wire to a woman. under wire —1. (of an area) fenced with barbed wire: There is the outer perimeter of the military unit, which is under wire , nearby our house. 2. (of railroads) electrified: The United States at that time had more miles of track “under wire ” than any other country. under water • underwater under water—beneath the surface of the water: “I was flying!” Ben says. “And I could see things under water from the sky like turtles and coral reefs. It was good!” underwater —(attrib.) situated or utilized beneath the sur- face of the water: The underwater cable allows to fulfill the traffic needs of broad band telecommunications and cable TV. underground railway (UK) • underground railway (U.S.) underground railway (UK)—the underground railway trans- port system in a large city: The growing population made traveling in London very difficult, and it was thought that an underground railway would solve many congestion problems. underground railway (U.S.)—(hist.) the chain of safe houses used by slaves escaping from the South prior to the abolition of slavery: Windsor was an important terminal of the Under - ground Railway . Fugitive slaves landing near this spot found in Canada protection under the British flag. under cover – 328 –