go under

1. To physically move beneath something. After you go under the bridge and make a right, you'll see the store up ahead. Please tell me that skunk did not just go under our porch! Sure, I could go under the car and take a look. The only problem is, I have no idea what I'm looking for!

2. To fail or become defunct. Our company will go under if we lose money again this quarter. I'm not surprised their start-up went under. I can't believe it lasted this long, to be honest! Wait, the place on the corner went under too? Dang, that strip of stores has had an awful lot of turnover these past few years.

3. To become unconscious, as from anesthesia. After you go under, you'll wake up in the recovery room. Of course I'm nervous for my surgery—I've never had to go under before! What if I wake up while they're operating? The doctors won't have an update for us yet—Mom only went under half an hour ago!

4. To become submerged. Captain, if this boat takes on any more water, it'll go under! Dummy, your toy wouldn't go under like that if it were capable of floating, OK? That life vest will keep you from going under, should you somehow end up in the water.

See also: go

go under

(someone or something)

1. to pass beneath someone or something. The boats went under us as we stood on the bridge. The boat went under the bridge.

2. to belong beneath someone or something. That box goes under the bed. All the Christmas presents go under the tree after the children are asleep.

See also: go

go under

1. to sink beneath the surface of the water. After capsizing, the ship went under very slowly. I was afraid that our canoe would go under in the rapidly moving water.

2. Fig. [for something] to fail. The company went under exactly one year after it opened. We tried to keep it from going under.

3. Fig. to become unconscious from anesthesia. After a few minutes, she went under and the surgeon began to work. Tom went under and the operation began.

See also: go

go under

1. Suffer defeat or destruction; fail. For example, We feared the business would go under after the founder died. [Mid-1800s]

2. Lose consciousness. For example, Ether was the first anesthetic to make patients go under quickly and completely. This usage dates from the 1930s.

3. Submerge, sink, as in This leaky boat is about to go under.

See also: go

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

go under

1. To move to a place beneath something: The dog went under the table.

2. To sink or descend below the surface: The divers went under three times that afternoon. The ship leaked so badly that it finally went under.

3. To fail. Used especially of businesses and enterprises: That big department store went under last year because of the fire.

4. To suffer defeat or destruction: The enemy went under after a long battle.

5. To lose consciousness: The surgeons gave me a strong anesthetic, and I quickly went under.

See also: go

gone under

verb

See gone