sink under
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle under
Meanings
Drop below the surface, often metaphorically
Why “under”? A person or thing loses strength under pressure, weight, or demands.
“The team sank under the pressure.”
“The new manager sank under the weight of all the extra work.”
Don't confuse with
Sink under means drop below the surface, often metaphorically. Sink in means be gradually understood and absorbed.
Test yourself
“The team sank under the pressure.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
sink in
A contrast learners often mix up
Be gradually understood and absorbed
buckle under
Same under pattern: pressure
Yield or break under strain; Give in to pressure to do something
cave under
Same under pattern: pressure
Collapse beneath weight or pressure
knuckle under
Same under pattern: pressure
Submit to authority or pressure
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