| Idiom |
Where Used |
Meaning |
|---|
| ugly duckling |
Global |
An ugly or unpromising individual who grows into an attractive or talented person. Alludes to Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, The Ugly Duckling, about a cygnet hatched with ducklings that is despised for its clumsiness until it grows up into a beautiful swan. |
| under someone's spell |
Global |
Fascinated or influenced by someone. Derives from the literal meaning of spell. |
| under the impression |
Global |
Thinking, assuming, or believing something. |
| under the weather |
Global, orig. USA |
Feeling ill |
| under wraps |
Global |
Kept secret or hidden |
| underwater basket weaving |
USA |
Any college course that is extremely easy or pointless; used to comment on the "degredation" of the educational system |
| university of life |
UK |
The (sometimes painful) education one gets from life, often contrasted with formal education. |
| until the cows come home |
AUS, USA, UK |
For a long time |
| up a creek; up shit creek; up a creek without a paddle |
|
In an untenable position. Having no recourse or satisfactory course of action. Or "Up a creek with a hole in the boat". Being in a particularly bad situation can often be described as being "up shit creek, in a barbed wire canoe, without a paddle". |
| up for grabs |
Global |
Available for anyone |
| up to eleven |
|
As high, loud, or powerful as possible...and then some. One more than the standard 'ten'. From the famous mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap |
| up to one's neck |
Global |
neck-deep: deeply involved; "neck-deep in work"; "up to their necks in debt" |
| up the duff |
orig. AUS, now esp. UK |
Pregnant |
| use one's head |
Global |
To think, to have common sense |
| up the ante |
Global |
To increase the stakes, or to generally increase something, such as "John had to up the ante to get his new promotion". |