AMERICAN IDIOMS (U)
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Idioms starting with U
Here is our list of popular "U" idioms that are used in American English:
Uncle Sam: The United States government;
Example: "One fourth of my salary goes to Uncle Sam."
Under construction:
Being built or repaired.
Example: "This road has been under construction for six months."
Under fire:
Being attacked.
Example: "The soldiers came under fire when they approached the city."
Under the table:
Illegally.
Example: "Many illegal immigrants try to find work under the table."
Under the weather:
Sick. Ill.
Example: "I'm feeling a bit under the weather today."
Up and about:
Recovered from an illness.
Example: "It's nice to see you up and about. You must be feeling a lot better."
Up for grabs: Available (for the taking);
Example: "The jackpot is still up for grabs."
Up in the air:
Uncertain.
Example: "His future at this company is up in the air."
Up one's sleeve (as in "to have something up one's sleeve"): To have a secret agenda, to be up to something, to be planning something.
Example: "I don't trust him. I just know he has something up his sleeve."
Upbeat (adj.): Positive.
Example: "Brendon's always really upbeat."
Upper crust: Upper class. The richest, most important people in a certain society.
Uptight:
Conservative, nervous, nit-picky.
"It's hard for me to feel at ease around uptight people."
(To be/feel) up to (doing something):
Capable of, fit for.
Example: "Do you feel up to playing a game of tennis?"
(To be) up to no good: To be planning something bad.
Example: "Jimmy's parents could tell that he was up to no good."
Up to one's neck in something:
Very much involved in something; to have a lot of something.
Example: "Please don't give me any more socks as presents. I'm up to my neck in socks."
Up to par:
Meeting normal standards.
Example: "The wine was nice, but it wasn't up to par with the excellent wine they normally have."
(To) use every trick in the book:
To use every method possible.
Example: "He used every trick in the book to get her to go out on a date with him."
