beneath

beneath (someone or something)

1. In a physically lower position than someone or something. A: "Where are your towels?" B: "They're beneath the bed linens in the closet next to the bathroom." You'll be sleeping in the bunk beneath your brother. Luckily, a fireman positioned beneath Mara's window was able to catch her when she jumped to escape the fire.

2. Of a lower rank or position than someone or something else. Remember that you are beneath me in the hierarchy of power, Corporal. So you would do well to watch your tone of voice. She couldn't stand being beneath Tom after his promotion. He was just so infuriatingly arrogant about it. Because the seniors think we freshmen are beneath them, they make us do all sorts of dumb stuff for them.

3. Unsuitable to someone's or something's rank, dignity, or moral upbringing. He felt it was beneath someone of his royal lineage to associate with commoners. I knew there had to be someone acting on their own. Such a despicable act is beneath even a greedy company like FlemCo. Don't get drawn into such a petty fight with the likes of him, Tom. It's beneath you.

See also: beneath

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*beneath something

under something. (*Typically: be ~; sit ~.) What is that beneath the table? The cat is beneath the piano.

beneath someone

too shameful for a polite person to do. That kind of thing is beneath Fred. I'm appalled that he did it. That sort of foul language is beneath you!

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.