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Region: General | Usage example: The startup flew under the radar during R&D.

Under the radar

Meaning

Avoiding attention.

Usage

Used when describing stealthy operations.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Military radar detection.

Adopted by business and tech communities.

Related Idioms

Water under the bridge

Past events that are forgiven or no longer important.

Under your belt

Gained experience or completed.

Sweep under the rug

Ignore or conceal problems instead of addressing them.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.