under fire

Idioms  

1. 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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Example Sentences

Yet it would stand to reason, for example, that McDonald’s, which has thousands of restaurants directly in countries under fire and thousands more in places starting to experience fuel shortages, would be affected.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Meanwhile, Disney was coming under fire for its climbing into bed with a company that artists, writers and other content creators regard as a plagiarism machine.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

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

It was beautifully done, superbly done, under fire, in the face of the enemy.

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara