come under fire for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come under fire for" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone or something being criticized or attacked, often in a public context. Example: "The politician came under fire for his controversial remarks during the interview."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science & Research

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But he has come under fire for his personal failings.

The Economist

Other presidents have come under fire for vacation habits.

The New York Times

Both projects have come under fire for their costs.

Nature

Uber has previously come under fire for hiring former criminals.

The Telegraph

Nocsae, an industry-supported association, has come under fire for not establishing more rigorous safety standards.

The New York Times - Sports

The Fed has also come under fire for regulatory failings leading up to the financial crisis.

The New York Times

JPMorgan has come under fire for failing to identify the risks associated with the huge bet.

The New York Times

However, this year's Oscar nominations have come under fire for being all-white.

Independent

Vale has also come under fire for not sourcing enough of its spending domestically.

The New York Times

(Eli Lilly, in particular, has come under fire for its marketing practices.

The New Yorker

He has also come under fire for his management of the economy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, follow "come under fire for" with specific details about the criticism or controversy.

Common error

Avoid using "come under fire for" without specifying the reason. For example, instead of saying "The company came under fire", specify "The company came under fire for its environmental practices" to provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come under fire for" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating that a person, organization, or entity is receiving strong criticism or facing opposition. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage and high frequency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Social Media

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "come under fire for" is a widely used idiomatic expression signifying strong criticism or opposition. Ludwig confirms it to be grammatically correct and suitable for neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "face criticism for" or "be criticized for" exist, "come under fire for" often carries a stronger connotation of public scrutiny. It is crucial to specify the reason for the criticism to maintain clarity. Ludwig's analysis reveals its frequent usage and acceptance across various authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

face criticism for

Replaces the idiomatic expression with a more direct and less figurative alternative.

be criticized for

Simplifies the phrase to a passive voice construction, making it more straightforward.

draw flak for

Uses a more informal term ("flak") for criticism, suggesting a less formal context.

be subject to censure for

Employs a more formal and legalistic term ("censure") indicating official disapproval.

attract condemnation for

Implies a stronger degree of disapproval or moral judgment.

receive negative feedback for

Replaces the negative connotation with feedback and makes the whole expression more gentle.

be blamed for

Shifts the focus to assigning responsibility for something negative.

be held accountable for

Focuses on the responsibility and the expectation to answer for one's actions.

be taken to task for

Uses a more colloquial expression implying a reprimand or scolding.

be reproached for

Employs a somewhat archaic and formal term for expressing disapproval.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "come under fire for" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "be subject to censure for" or "attract condemnation for", which convey a stronger sense of official disapproval or moral judgment.

What's a less intense way to say "come under fire for"?

If you want to soften the impact, consider using phrases such as "face criticism for" or "receive negative feedback for", which are less aggressive and more neutral.

Is "come under fire for" the same as "be blamed for"?

While both phrases indicate a negative situation, "come under fire for" implies public criticism or controversy, whereas "be blamed for" suggests direct responsibility for a specific action or event.

Can "come under fire for" be used in a positive context?

No, "come under fire for" is almost exclusively used in negative contexts to describe situations where someone or something is facing criticism, opposition, or attack. There are no common positive uses of this phrase.