C1idiominformalhealthIELTS-friendly
go under the knife
USUK
to have a medical operation
Common in news stories about surgery, including cosmetic surgery. With a doctor, just say 'have an operation'.
In context
My uncle has to go under the knife next month to fix his knee.
More and more young people now choose to go under the knife for cosmetic reasons.
More idioms about health
- a clean bill of healtha doctor's statement, after an examination, that someone is healthy
- back on your feethealthy and active again after an illness or injury
- butterflies in your stomacha nervous, fluttering feeling before something important
- get on someone's nervesto annoy someone, especially by doing something again and again
- out of shapenot physically fit, usually because you have not exercised for a long time