under way
prep_phrase1
Idiomatic In operation, in progress, commenced.
- A dearth of signalmen and the high cost of labour is hastening an elimination process that already was well under way before the second world war.1956 May, C. H. Betts, “St. Pancras Tunnel Signalbox”, in Railway Magazine, page 320:
- The All Blacks drove upfield, using up the remaining moments, and when Joubert blew for another French infringement, the biggest party in New Zealand's history was under way.2011 October 23, Tom Fordyce, “2011 Rugby World Cup final: New Zealand 8-7 France”, in BBC Sport:
2 more examples
- Hidden behind thickets of acronyms and gorse bushes of detail, a new great game is under way across the globe. Some call it geoeconomics, but it's geopolitics too. The current power play consists of an extraordinary range of countries simultaneously sitting down to negotiate big free trade and investment agreements.2013 July 19, Timothy Garton Ash, “Where Dr Pangloss meets Machiavelli”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 18:
- SWR has decided to withdraw it with immediate effect and cease the programme of modifications that were under way, to avoid incurring further costs to the taxpayer to reintroduce and operate these trains.2021 May 21, Richard Clinnick, “Fleet News: SWR's termination of '442' refurbishment saves £24m”, in RAIL, number 931, page 29:
3
Into motion, into its course.
- The show finally got under way, just 10 minutes late.
- Related terms
- make way