24 Prepositional Phrases with UNDER

24 Common Prepositional Phrases with UNDER (Meaning & Examples)

Prepositional phrases with under are extremely common in English. At first glance, under seems to mean only below, but in reality it is often used metaphorically to describe:

• conditions and states
• pressure, control, or authority
• legal situations
• processes that are not finished yet

For B2 First (FCE) and C1 Advanced (CAE) learners, these expressions are especially useful in writing, reports, news articles, and formal speaking.

Let’s explore the most important ones — clearly explained and grouped by meaning.

UNDER: law, rules & authority

Under age

Legally too young to do something.

• Michael is under age, so he can’t drive yet.

Under arrest

Officially arrested by the police.

• Two men are under arrest for their involvement in the robbery.

Under suspicion

Thought to be guilty of a crime or wrongdoing.

• For a short time, Anthony was under suspicion of theft.

Under regulations

Controlled or governed by official rules or laws.

• Under new regulations, citizens must declare their income.

Under orders

Required to obey instructions from someone in authority.

• The architect was under orders to follow strict safety rules.

UNDER: processes, progress & decisions

Under consideration

Being carefully thought about.

• Your application is still under consideration.

Under discussion

Being talked about; no decision has been made yet.

• The proposal has been under discussion for weeks.

Under review

Being examined before a final decision.

• The manuscript is currently under review.

Under construction

In the process of being built.

• A new hotel is under construction near the beach.

Under repair

Being repaired.

• The bridge is under repair, so traffic has been diverted.

Under way

Already started and in progress.

• Preparations for the festival are well under way.

UNDER: control, protection & restriction

Under control

Managed successfully.

• By morning, the fire was under control.

Under protection

Kept safe from harm or damage.

• The ancient forest is under protection.

Under guarantee

Covered by a promise of repair or replacement.

• Is your laptop still under guarantee?

Under lock and key

Securely locked away.

• The documents are kept under lock and key.

Under seal

Officially sealed and not allowed to be opened.

• The contract was sent under seal.

UNDER: pressure, stress & difficulty

Under pressure

Experiencing stress because of demands or expectations.

• Teachers are often under pressure at the end of term.

Under stress

Affected by anxiety or tension.

• She makes mistakes when she’s under stress.

Under strain

Suffering because of long-term pressure or problems.

• Their marriage has been under strain for years.

UNDER: conditions & influence

Under the circumstances

Considering the difficult situation.

• Under the circumstances, we had no choice but to cancel.

Under the impression

Believing something that is not true.

• I was under the impression that the meeting was today.

Under the influence

Affected by alcohol or drugs.

• He was fined for driving under the influence.

Under cover

Hidden or protected, often used with darkness.

• They moved under cover of darkness.

Under the name

Using a different or false name.

• Agatha Christie published several novels under the name Mary Westmacott.

Final note for learners

When under is used metaphorically, it often suggests:

• lack of control (under pressure)
• temporary states (under review)
• authority or rules (under arrest, under regulations)

These phrases appear frequently in Cambridge exams, especially in reading texts, reports, and formal writing — so learning them is a smart investment.

And remember: mastering expressions like these is how your English starts to sound educated, natural, and confident — not just correct.

Learn prepositional phrases for formal contexts here