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

But the deal quickly came under fire with U.S. regulators arguing that allowing it to go through would hurt consumers.

From Los Angeles Times

The trust, already under fire following an inquiry that exposed a culture of bullying and a lack of openness, said it was "truly sorry" for the mistakes and felt "deep regret".

From BBC

But his name and face are associated with the BBC, and, as allegations continue to emerge, the corporation is under fire.

From BBC

A sports retail giant has come under fire for misspelling the Welsh word for Wales on its bobble hats.

From BBC

A security official in the provincial capital Peshawar told AFP that the negotiators' helicopter had come under fire as it arrived in the region.

From BBC