under one's breath
below one's breath
In a whisper; with a low voice.
Шепотом, тихо, еле слышно.
The teacher heard the boy say something under his breath and she asked him to repeat it aloud.
I told Lucy the news under my breath, but Joyce overheard me.
I told him the truth below my breath.
Я рассказал ему правду шепотом.
under one's heel
In one's power or control.
If one marriage partner always wants to keep the other person under his or her heel, it is not a happy or democratic arrangement and may lead to a divorce.
under one's nose
under the nose of
In sight of; in an easily seen or noticeable place.
The thief walked out of the museum with the painting, right under the nose of the guards.
When Jim gave up trying to find a pen, he saw three right under his nose on the desk.
under one's own steam
By one's own efforts; without help.
The boys got to Boston under their own steam and took a bus the rest of the way.
We didn't think he could do it, but Bobby finished his homework under his own steam.
under one's spell
Unable to resist one's influence.
From the first moment they saw each other, Peter was under Nancy's spell.
under one's thumb
under the thumb of
Obedient to you; controlled by you; under your power.
The Jones family is under the thumb of the mother.
Jack is a bully. He keeps all the younger children under his thumb.
The mayor is so popular that he has the whole town under his thumb.
under one's wing
take under one's wing
Under the care or protection of.
Helen took the new puppy under her wing.
The boys stopped teasing the new student when Bill took him under his wing.
under orders
Not out of one's own desire or one's own free will; obligatorily; not freely.
"So you were a Nazi prison guard? " the judge asked. "Yes, your Honor," the man answered, "but I was acting under orders and not because I wished to harm anyone."