Word: Going Under
Part of Speech: Verb (phrase)
Basic Meaning:
The phrase "going under" often means that something is sinking or failing. In the context of a ship, it means that the ship is sinking below the water's surface.
Usage Instructions:
Examples:
Literal Use: "The ship is taking on water and is going under fast!"
Figurative Use: "The company is going under because of poor management."
Advanced Usage:
In more advanced contexts, "going under" can refer to situations where someone is experiencing a significant loss or failure, whether financially, emotionally, or in terms of performance.
Word Variants:
Going under (adjective): You might hear "underwater" in financial contexts, which refers to a situation where liabilities exceed assets.
Going under (noun): "Undergoing" can be used to describe a process of change or transformation, though it's a different context.
Different Meanings:
Sinking (literal): As in a ship going under water.
Failing (figurative): A business or project that is unable to succeed.
Synonyms:
Sinking (literal context)
Failing (figurative context)
Collapsing
Drowning (figurative, when referring to overwhelming situations)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:
"In over your head": This means you are involved in a situation that is too difficult for you to handle, similar to "going under" in a figurative sense.
"Go belly up": This idiom means to fail completely, especially in a business context.
Conclusion:
"Going under" is a versatile phrase that can be used in various contexts.