under our radar

USAGE SUMMARY

"under our radar" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is generally used to mean that something has avoided being noticed or has been overlooked. For example, "We didn't realize the company had been losing money until it was too late; the losses were completely under our radar."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

The site has passed under our radar since launching in 2007, but has grown to over 125,000 thousand musicians.

TechCrunch

That detail had somehow glided under our radar screen.

The New York Times

There is a persistent sense that something is slipping under our radar.

Independent

Cartoons are important because they slip in under our radar: they subvert us, de-anthropomorphise ourselves.

The Guardian - Books

In fact, our third primary flavour sense flies so far under our radar that even flavour wonks haven't agreed on a single name for it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Milo has slipped under our radar until now, but it's been around for two years.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

"But the diversity of the population means that, of the 75 under-15s on our radar, 55 of them are eligible for more than one country," said Ashworth.

The Guardian - Sport

Some reading and viewing experiences slip under our intellectual radar screen, remaining resistant to analysis.

The New York Times

The assault on Nanking and other countless atrocities are comparable to the crimes against humanity in Europe, yet the Japanese crimes seem to go under our moral radar.

The Guardian

We are honored this season to have iconic artists like Savion Glover, Placido Domingo, Juan Diego Florez in addition to the best of emerging artists in our Under the Radar series in our black box Edye Second Space.

Huffington Post

Despite the prevalence and long-term impact of childhood loss, grief remains under-the-radar in our death-averse society.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "under our radar" when you want to express that something was not noticed or detected, often implying a missed opportunity or oversight. Ensure the context makes it clear whose radar you're referring to.

Common error

Avoid using "under our radar" when the context doesn't involve oversight or a failure to notice something. For example, don't say, "The weather is under our radar," if you simply mean you haven't checked the forecast; instead, say, "We haven't checked the weather forecast."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under our radar" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It indicates that something has avoided being noticed or detected by a specific group. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "under our radar" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something has gone unnoticed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "gone unnoticed by us" or "escaped our attention" exist, "under our radar" offers a specific nuance suggesting a failure of vigilance. Remember to use it when you truly mean something was overlooked, and to specify whose "radar" you're referring to for clarity. It’s a useful phrase for admitting oversight or explaining why something wasn't addressed sooner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gone unnoticed by us

Replaces the radar metaphor with a direct statement of being unnoticed.

escaped our attention

Substitutes "radar" with the broader term "attention".

we overlooked

A concise way to say something was missed.

we failed to notice

More explicit about the failure to observe something.

slipped past our awareness

Emphasizes the subtle way in which something was missed.

was not on our agenda

Suggests a lack of prioritization rather than a failure to notice.

remained unknown to us

Focuses on the lack of knowledge about something.

we were unaware of

Highlights the state of being uninformed.

did not register with us

Implies a lack of impact or importance.

eluded our observation

Suggests that something actively avoided being seen.

FAQs

How can I use "under our radar" in a sentence?

You can use "under our radar" to indicate that something went unnoticed or undetected. For example: "The new marketing campaign went completely "under our radar" until the sales figures started to climb."

What's a good alternative to "under our radar"?

Alternatives include "gone unnoticed by us", "escaped our attention", or "we overlooked" depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "under the radar" instead of "under our radar"?

"Under the radar" is a more general phrase, while "under our radar" specifies whose attention something escaped. Both are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Under the radar" implies a general avoidance of notice, whereas "under our radar" is specific to a group or individual.

What does it mean when something is "under our radar"?

It means that we didn't notice or detect something, often implying a missed opportunity or a failure in vigilance. It suggests that something should have been noticed but wasn't.