under fire

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See synonyms for under fire on Thesaurus.com

Criticized or held responsible, as in The landlord is under fire for not repairing the roof. This expression originally referred to being within range of enemy guns; its figurative use dates from the late 1800s.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Words nearby under fire

underexpose, underexposure, under false colors, underfeed, underfelt, under fire, underfired, underfloor, underflow, underfoot, underframe

How to use under fire in a sentence

The lack of a cannon is a particular problem, as the F-35 is being counted on to help out infantrymen under fire.
New U.S. Stealth Jet Can’t Fire Its Gun Until 2019|Dave Majumdar|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Claiming to be useful against Ebola, autism, and cancer, Young Living Essential Oils came under fire from the FDA.
Honey Boo Boo, Snake Oil, and Ebola: The Weird World of Young Living Essential Oils|Kent Sepkowitz|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There had been rumors of an attack, but no one believed the city would come under fire again.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Author Hilary Mantel is under fire for writing a story about killing Margaret Thatcher.
The Strange World of Political Assassination Fantasies|James Poulos|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The outspoken MC came under fire for demanding that a kid in a wheelchair stand up and dance at a show on Friday night.
Read Kanye West’s Epic Rant Blasting the Media For ‘Wheelchair-Gate’|Marlow Stern|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Calm under fire, he possessed a sure and penetrating coup d'œil; he had great experience in war.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
As they drew near they came under fire of our destroyers and of the Anzac guns and were badly knocked about and broken up.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
It is strange to hear of people playing football out here—we ourselves are under fire every minute.
Letters of Lt.-Col. George Brenton Laurie|George Brenton Laurie
As we approached these, a heavy fight was in progress, and we came under fire of the spent bullets.
Letters of Lt.-Col. George Brenton Laurie|George Brenton Laurie
(p. 356) Hinks's division of the Eighteenth Corps was composed of colored troops, who had never been under fire.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.