What is "under fire"

Under \Un"der\, prep. [AS. under, prep. & adv.; akin to OFries. under, OS. undar, D. onder, G. unter, OHG. untar, Icel. undir, Sw. & Dan. under, Goth. undar, L. infra below, inferior lower, Skr. adhas below. [root]20

1. Cf. Inferior.] 1. Below or lower, in place or position, with the idea of being covered; lower than; beneath; -- opposed to over; as, he stood under a tree; the carriage is under cover; a cellar extends under the whole house.

   Fruit put in bottles, and the bottles let down into wells under water, will keep long.
   --Bacon.

   Be gathered now, ye waters under heaven, Into one place.
   --Milton.

2. Hence, in many figurative uses which may be classified as follows;

   1. Denoting relation to some thing or person that is superior, weighs upon, oppresses, bows down, governs, directs, influences powerfully, or the like, in a relation of subjection, subordination, obligation, liability, or the like; as, to travel under a heavy load; to live under extreme oppression; to have fortitude under the evils of life; to have patience under pain, or under misfortunes; to behave like a Christian under reproaches and injuries; under the pains and penalties of the law; the condition under which one enters upon an office; under the necessity of obeying the laws; under vows of chastity.

      Both Jews and Gentiles . . . are all under sin.
      --Rom. iii. 9.

      That led the embattled seraphim to war Under thy conduct.
      --Milton.

      Who have their provand Only for bearing burdens, and sore blows For sinking under them.
      --Shak.

   2. Denoting relation to something that exceeds in rank or degree, in number, size, weight, age, or the like; in a relation of the less to the greater, of inferiority, or of falling short.

      Three sons he dying left under age.
      --Spenser.

      Medicines take effect sometimes under, and sometimes above, the natural proportion of their virtue.
      --Hooker.

      There are several hundred parishes in England under twenty pounds a year.
      --Swift.

      It was too great an honor for any man under a duke.
      --Addison.

      Note: Hence, it sometimes means at, with, or for, less than; as, he would not sell the horse under sixty dollars.

      Several young men could never leave the pulpit under half a dozen conceits.
      --Swift.

   3. Denoting relation to something that comprehends or includes, that represents or designates, that furnishes a cover, pretext, pretense, or the like; as, he betrayed him under the guise of friendship; Morpheus is represented under the figure of a boy asleep.

      A crew who, under names of old renown . . . abused Fanatic Egypt.
      --Milton.

      Mr. Duke may be mentioned under the double capacity of a poet and a divine.
      --Felton.

      Under this head may come in the several contests and wars betwixt popes and the secular princes.
      --C. Leslie.

   4. Less specifically, denoting the relation of being subject, of undergoing regard, treatment, or the like; as, a bill under discussion. Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, Under amazement of their hideous change. --Milton. Under arms. (Mil.)

      1. Drawn up fully armed and equipped.

      2. Enrolled for military service; as, the state has a million men under arms. Under canvas.

         1. (Naut.) Moved or propelled by sails; -- said of any vessel with her sail set, but especially of a steamer using her sails only, as distinguished from one under steam. Under steam and canvas signifies that a vessel is using both means of propulsion.

         2. (Mil.) Provided with, or sheltered in, tents. Under fire, exposed to an enemy's fire; taking part in a battle or general engagement. Under foot. See under Foot, n. Under ground, below the surface of the ground. Under one's signature, with one's signature or name subscribed; attested or confirmed by one's signature. Cf. the second Note under Over, prep. Under sail. (Naut.)

            1. With anchor up, and under the influence of sails; moved by sails; in motion.

            2. With sails set, though the anchor is down.

      3. Same as Under canvas (a), above.
         --Totten.

         Under sentence, having had one's sentence pronounced.

         Under the breath, with low voice; very softly.

         Under the lee (Naut.), to the leeward; as, under the lee of the land.

         Under the rose. See under Rose, n.

         Under water, below the surface of the water.

         Under way, or Under weigh (Naut.), in a condition to make progress; having started.

a. 1 subjected to enemy attack 2 (context idiomatic English) criticized or held responsible for something

adj. subjected to enemy attack or censure; "an official under fire for mismanagement" [syn: under attack(p), under fire(p)]

Under Fire may refer to:

Under Fire is an episode in the British comedy series Dad's Army and was originally transmitted on Saturday 5 April 1969. It is currently missing from the BBC archives, believed lost forever, when the master tape was wiped to be used again. However, audio recordings are saved to preserve its existence.

Under Fire: The Story of a Squad (French: Le Feu: journal d'une escouade) by Henri Barbusse (December 1916), was one of the first novels about World War I to be published. Although it is fiction, the novel was based on Barbusse's experiences as a French soldier on the Western Front.

Under Fire is a political thriller novel in the Tom Clancy universe by Grant Blackwood that was published on June 16, 2015 by Putnam Adult.

Under Fire is a 1983 political film set during the last days of the Nicaraguan Revolution that ended the Somoza regime in 1979 Nicaragua. It stars Nick Nolte, Gene Hackman and Joanna Cassidy. The musical score by Jerry Goldsmith, which featured well-known jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, was nominated for an Academy Award. The editing by Mark Conte and John Bloom was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Editing.The Film was shot in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca.

Under Fire (アンダーファイアー Andā Faiā) is a 1993 shooter game released in video arcades by Taito Corporation. The game features graphics created using digitized photographs and two player gameplay using gun controllers, similar to Konami's Lethal Enforcers. Unlike Lethal Enforcers, the controllers are not traditional light guns but rather operate using infrared technology. They also provide force feedback when the player pulls the trigger. Like Konami's game, Under Fire is rated for mature audiences 17+ ages and older. The game was never released for home consoles.

Under Fire is a 1957 American drama film directed by James B. Clark and written by James Landis. The film stars Rex Reason, Harry Morgan, Steve Brodie, Peter Walker, Robert Levin and Jon Locke. The film was released on September 23, 1957, by 20th Century Fox.

Under Fire is an album by Argentinian jazz composer and saxophonist Gato Barbieri featuring performances recorded in New York in 1971 and first released on the Flying Dutchman label in 1973.