under fire

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

The lack of a cannon is a particular problem, as the F-35 is being counted on to help out infantrymen under fire.

From The Daily Beast

Claiming to be useful against Ebola, autism, and cancer, Young Living Essential Oils came under fire from the FDA.

From The Daily Beast

There had been rumors of an attack, but no one believed the city would come under fire again.

From The Daily Beast

Author Hilary Mantel is under fire for writing a story about killing Margaret Thatcher.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

Calm under fire, he possessed a sure and penetrating coup d'œil; he had great experience in war.

From Project Gutenberg

As they drew near they came under fire of our destroyers and of the Anzac guns and were badly knocked about and broken up.

From Project Gutenberg

It is strange to hear of people playing football out here—we ourselves are under fire every minute.

From Project Gutenberg

As we approached these, a heavy fight was in progress, and we came under fire of the spent bullets.

From Project Gutenberg

(p. 356) Hinks's division of the Eighteenth Corps was composed of colored troops, who had never been under fire.

From Project Gutenberg