go underground

go underground

1. To conceal oneself in a hidden place or at a hidden location so as to avoid discovery or detection, especially by figures of authority. Many political dissidents have gone underground now that the government has begun its violent crackdown on opposing parties. The agent had to go underground after his cover was blown.
2. To operate or function without being detected by someone or something, especially a body or figures of authority. The distributors of the pro-socialist pamphlets seem to have gone underground ever since they started attracting the attention of the feds.
See also: go, underground
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go underground

in. to go into hiding; to begin to operate in secret. The entire operation went underground, and we heard no more about it.
See also: go, underground
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • underground
  • talent
  • have a hidden talent
  • hidden
  • lay low and sing small
  • lie
  • lie low
  • lie low and sing small
  • lie low, to
  • disappear into the woodwork
References in periodicals archive
For a start, brave persons do not run away and go underground when facing a probe, more so if they have acted legally.
A second possibility is to go underground between Heuston and Pearse Street only - avoiding the expense of a tunnel under the Liffey.
With that kind of mindset, it is no wonder people would rather build large towers in your backyard rather than go underground.
More workers will be able to go underground at Carlsbad's radioactive waste disposal site because of the addition of a new evacuation area.
Now, the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart, believes that as much of the rest of the route should go underground as possible too, in order to prevent pylons scarring the countryside.
Dorothy Hayes claims to be the secret daughter of a recently assassinated Chairman, fingers her brother Nate as the murderer, and forces Nate and his best friend Nadia to go underground to the Basement, Paxco's lawless slums and the one place Dorothy's power can't reach.
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has directed all its Provincial members, office bearers and active workers to go underground as they are likely to be arrested.
Pylons must go underground I URGE not only village residents but those on the outskirts who object to these proposed pylons to vehemently express their view.
In a Sunday interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, Stoynev made clear that the owner could not make the miners go underground until the irregularities were removed, adding that he also had no right to dismiss them during the period.
on the eastern side four shafts didn't go underground," said Lonmin spokeswoman Sue Vey.
Paramedics arrived at King's Cross about 20 minutes after the blast but rather than go underground they waited to triage, or prioritise, passengers who were above ground.
When the time is right and we are comfortable to say that it's safe, we'll be going in and we will keep the families up to date all the way through the process and they know - like we do - they don't want their colleagues to go underground if it's a risk for them as well."
The Association of Chief Police Officers' president Sir Hugh Orde said: "People say people will go underground - frankly, people go underground anyway.
But Acpo president Sir Hugh Orde said: "People say people will go underground - frankly, people go underground anyway.
Pie shops up and down the country will go underground. Bridies will become the currency of the criminal classes.