under fire

Idioms

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Dell Technologies gains as Super Micro comes under fire for its employees’ involvement in an alleged chip smuggling plot.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

It is unsurprising that many authorities are hesitant to think about large-scale bailouts, for their finances too are under fire.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

Live Nation, the ticketing giant that reached a tentative settlement with the Department of Justice last week, remains under fire.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Even Mamdani’s family’s social media usage is coming under fire.

From Salon • Mar. 12, 2026

Heinz obeyed, but he found himself under fire.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023