under the knife
On operating table
Under the knife means undergoing surgery.
The knife is the surgeon's scalpel: She's going under the knife tomorrow for her hip replacement.
The phrase emphasizes the vulnerability of surgical patients—you're literally being cut open.
It applies to any operation, from routine procedures to major interventions: He's been under the knife three times this year.
- anesthesiaInduced loss of feeling
- incisionControlled cut into tissue
- scalpelPrecise surgical knife
- gurneyMobile patient transport bed
- surgical maskProtective medical face covering
scrub in · hospital · anxiety · fear · biopsy · tummy tuck · face lift · vulnerability · laparotomy · open heart · diagnosis · surgeon · recovery room · endoscopy · informed consent · second opinion · sutures · postoperative care
under the knifepost-op
After a surgical procedure
pre-op · on the mend · discharged · healed · convalescing
under the knifeuntreated
Not given care
fit as a fiddle · healthy · healthy as a horse · hale and hearty · clean bill of health
under, knife, operation, surgery, operating, operated, surgeries