American Slang & Idioms Starting with "U"

27 entries

• Uber A rideshare service, or generically, any app-based car service. Also used as ...
• Uber home To take a rideshare (Uber, Lyft) home after a night out; used as a verb.
• Uff da An exclamation expressing surprise, exhaustion, relief, or mild dismay — the ...
• Ugly as homemade sin Extremely unattractive; used to describe something or someone very ugly.
• Ultralight A backpacking philosophy focused on carrying the absolute minimum weight.
• Unalive A euphemism used on social media to discuss death or self-harm without trigge...
• Unbothered Completely indifferent, unfazed, or refusing to let something affect you emot...
• Uncle Sam A personification of the United States government.
• Undeclared A college student who has not yet chosen a major field of study.
• Under fire Being attacked; receiving heavy criticism or pressure.
• Under the weather A polite, well-known idiom meaning feeling sick or unwell, used in all regist...
• Underachiever A person who doesn't perform to their full potential, especially academically...
• Underdog A competitor who is expected to lose but may have a chance of winning.
• Underground Independent, non-mainstream music or art that exists outside the commercial s...
• Understood the assignment Successfully executed a task, look, or performance — nailed it perfectly.
• Underwater Owing more on a loan than the asset is worth, especially a home or car.
• Unhinged Wild, chaotic, or bizarre behavior, especially online — used both critically ...
• Unicorn A privately held startup company valued at over $1 billion — a rare and covet...
• Unpack To analyze or discuss something in detail, breaking it down into its components.
• Unpack that To analyze or discuss something complex, emotional, or problematic in detail.
• Unplug To deliberately disconnect from technology and digital devices.
• Unplugged An acoustic performance without electric amplification, or figuratively, disc...
• Unreal So impressive or amazing that it seems impossible.
• Up north Going to a cabin, lake house, or rural retreat, typically in northern Minneso...
• Up the ante To raise the stakes; to increase what's at risk or demanded.
• Upset (sports) When a weaker or lower-ranked competitor defeats a stronger, favored opponent.
• Uptown The northern part of Manhattan; also used as a direction meaning 'going north...