serve under

serve under (one)

1. To be in the service or under the direction of one. I have had the privilege of serving under eight different presidents in my time as the head butler of the White House.
2. To provide, present, or execute a formal notice, announcement, or action as dictated by a particular piece of legislation. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "serve" and "under." Health inspectors have served four closure orders under the FDA's tough new rules this week.
See also: serve
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

serve under someone or something

to carry out one's responsibility under the direction or in the employment of someone. I served under the president of the company as special assistant. Jane served under the previous administration as an investigator.
See also: serve
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • serve under (one)
  • serve your time
  • serve (one's) time
  • serve time
  • put (someone, something, or oneself) at (one's) disposal
  • put at disposal
  • put at someone's disposal
  • have a/the right to (do something)
  • have a/the right to (something)
  • have a right to