Idioms U	Back to Vocabulary..
U-turn If a government changes its position radically on an issue, especially when they have promised not to do so, this is a U-turn
Ugly duckling An ugly duckling is a child who shows little promise, but who develops later into a real talent or beauty
Uncalled for If someone does something bad and unnecessary without consideration for another's feelings, what they do is uncalled for
Un chartered water If you're in uncharted waters, you are in a situation that is unfamiliar to you, that you have no experience of and don't know what might happen
Under a cloud If someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud
Under a flag of convenience If a ship sails under a flag of convenience, it is registered in a country where taxes, etc, are lower than in the country it comes from, so if someone does something under a flag of convenience, they attempt to avoid regulations and taxes by a similar means
Under false colours If someone does something under false colours, they pretend to be something they are not in order to deceive people so that they can succeed
Under fire If someone is being attacked and cricitised heavily, they are under fire
Under lock and key If something is under lock and key, it is stored very securely
Under someone's heels If you are under someone's heel, your in someone's way
Under the radar If something slips under the radar, it isn't detected or noticed
Under the table Bribes or illegal payments are often described as money under the table
Under the weather If you are feeling a bit ill, sad or lack energy, you are said to be under the weather
Under your belt If you have something under your belt, you have already achieved or experienced it and it will probably be of benefit to you in the future
Under your breath If you say something under your breath, you whisper or say it very quietly
Under your nose If something happens right in front of you, especially if it is surprising or audacious, it happens under your nose
Under your skin If someone gets under your skin, they really annoy you
Under your thumb Someone who is manipulated or controlled by another person is under his or her thumb
Uneasy is the head that wears the crown This means that people with serious responsibilities have a heavy burden
Up a gum tree If something isn't a bed of roses, or it is difficult you are up a gum tree
Up the river without a paddle If you are up a river without a paddle, you are in an unfortunate situation, unprepared and with none of the resources to remedy the matter
Up for grabs If something is up for grabs, it is available and whoever is first or is successful will get it
Up in the air If a matter is up in the air, no decision has been made and there is uncertainty about it
Up sticks If you up sticks, you leave somewhere, usually permanently and without warning
Up the ante If you up the ante, you increase the importance or value of something, especially where there's an element of risk as the term comes from gambling, where it means to increase the stake (the amount of money bet)
Up the creek If someone or something is up the creek, they are in real trouble
Up the duff If a woman is up the duff, she's pregnant
Up the spout If something has gone up the spout, it has gone wrong or been ruined
Up the stick If a woman is up the stick, she's pregnant
Up the wall If someone goes up the wall, they get very angry
Up the wooden hill When you go up the wooden hill, you go up the stairs to bed
Up to scratch If something doesn't come up to scratch, it doesn't meet the standard required or expected
Up to snuff If something isn't up to snuff, it doesn't meet the standard expected
Up to speed If you bring someone up to speed, you update them on something
Up to your eyes You you are up to your eyes in something, you are deeply involved or to have too much of something like work
Up to your neck If someone's in something up to the neck, they are very involved in it, especially when it's something wrong
Up with the lark If you get up very early, you're up with the lark
Upper crust The upper crust are the upper classes and the establishment
Upper hand If you have the upper hand, you have the advantage
Upset the apple cart If you upset the apple cart, you cause trouble and upset people