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Under fire   /ˈəndər fˈaɪər/   Listen
preposition
Under  prep.  
1.
Below or lower, in place or position, with the idea of being covered; lower than; beneath; opposed to over; as, he stood under a tree; the carriage is under cover; a cellar extends under the whole house. "Fruit put in bottles, and the bottles let down into wells under water, will keep long." "Be gathered now, ye waters under heaven, Into one place."
2.
Hence, in many figurative uses which may be classified as follows:
(a)
Denoting relation to some thing or person that is superior, weighs upon, oppresses, bows down, governs, directs, influences powerfully, or the like, in a relation of subjection, subordination, obligation, liability, or the like; as, to travel under a heavy load; to live under extreme oppression; to have fortitude under the evils of life; to have patience under pain, or under misfortunes; to behave like a Christian under reproaches and injuries; under the pains and penalties of the law; the condition under which one enters upon an office; under the necessity of obeying the laws; under vows of chastity. "Both Jews and Gentiles... are all under sin." "That led the embattled seraphim to war Under thy conduct." "Who have their provand Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows For sinking under them."
(b)
Denoting relation to something that exceeds in rank or degree, in number, size, weight, age, or the like; in a relation of the less to the greater, of inferiority, or of falling short. "Three sons he dying left under age." "Medicines take effect sometimes under, and sometimes above, the natural proportion of their virtue." "There are several hundred parishes in England under twenty pounds a year." "It was too great an honor for any man under a duke." Note: Hence, it sometimes means at, with, or for, less than; as, he would not sell the horse under sixty dollars. "Several young men could never leave the pulpit under half a dozen conceits."
(c)
Denoting relation to something that comprehends or includes, that represents or designates, that furnishes a cover, pretext, pretense, or the like; as, he betrayed him under the guise of friendship; Morpheus is represented under the figure of a boy asleep. "A crew who, under names of old renown... abused Fanatic Egypt." "Mr. Duke may be mentioned under the double capacity of a poet and a divine." "Under this head may come in the several contests and wars betwixt popes and the secular princes."
(d)
Less specifically, denoting the relation of being subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or the like; as, a bill under discussion. "Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, Under amazement of their hideous change."
Under arms. (Mil.)
(a)
Drawn up fully armed and equipped.
(b)
Enrolled for military service; as, the state has a million men under arms.
Under canvas.
(a)
(Naut.) Moved or propelled by sails; said of any vessel with her sail set, but especially of a steamer using her sails only, as distinguished from one under steam. Under steam and canvas signifies that a vessel is using both means of propulsion.
(b)
(Mil.) Provided with, or sheltered in, tents.
Under fire, exposed to an enemy's fire; taking part in a battle or general engagement.
Under foot. See under Foot, n.
Under ground, below the surface of the ground.
Under one's signature, with one's signature or name subscribed; attested or confirmed by one's signature. Cf. the second Note under Over, prep.
Under sail. (Naut.)
(a)
With anchor up, and under the influence of sails; moved by sails; in motion.
(b)
With sails set, though the anchor is down.
(c)
Same as Under canvas (a), above.
Under sentence, having had one's sentence pronounced.
Under the breath, Under one's breath, with low voice; very softly.
Under the lee (Naut.), to the leeward; as, under the lee of the land.
Under the gun. Under psychological pressure, such as the need to meet a pressing deadline; feeling pressured
Under water, below the surface of the water.
Under way, or Under weigh (Naut.), in a condition to make progress; having started.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Under fire" Quotes from Famous Books



... home the topsail, a flash of light illuminated the scene, when the roar of a gun came booming across the water, succeeded by the very distinct whistling of its shot. We regret that the relict of the late Captain Budd did not behave exactly as became a shipmaster's widow, under fire. Instead of remaining silent and passive, even while frightened, as was the case with Rose, she screamed quite as loud as she had previously done that very day in Hell-Gate. It appeared to Spike, indeed, that practice was making her perfect; ...
— Jack Tier or The Florida Reef • James Fenimore Cooper
... at St. Pole, the secretaries, including McGuffy, were out at the front with supplies for the boys. While waiting for them to return we strolled about through the desolate remnants of this old peasant village. My companion had not been under fire before, so when the first shell from the Boche "heavies" came whistling and whining toward us he hastened to the dugout saying, "This is no place for me." He was ashamed of his own fear and proved that he was a "regular guy" by joining in the laugh and jibes of the ...
— The Fight for the Argonne - Personal Experiences of a 'Y' Man • William Benjamin West
... the Squire, now thoroughly irritated over this trivial objection, as a fly will sometimes ruffle the temper of a man who has kept calm under fire of an enemy. "And where are all the clothes that have been making these weeks and months past? What more preparation does she need? Did the hussy take her wedding things with her? ...
— Marcia Schuyler • Grace Livingston Hill Lutz
... Paris itself became the scene of action, and in January 1871 was besieged and bombarded. So much of Ruskin's work and affection had been given to French Gothic that he could not endure to think of his beloved Sainte Chapelle as being actually under fire—to say nothing of the horror of human suffering in a siege. He joined Cardinal (then Archbishop) Manning, Professor Huxley, Sir John Lubbock and James Knowles in forming a "Paris Food Fund," which shortly united with the Lord Mayor's committee for the general relief of the besieged. The day after ...
— The Life of John Ruskin • W. G. Collingwood
... his person on the field, were tenacious and courageous to the highest degree, but the tactics and dispositions of Napoleon, the spirit of his men, his own equally reckless exposure of his person under fire, and a cavalry dash at the allied rear at Janvilliers, finally turned the wavering tide of battle. The allies began to retreat, ...
— The Eagle of the Empire - A Story of Waterloo • Cyrus Townsend Brady


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