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• under-the-table
  under-the-table

  adjective

  transacted in secret or in an underhanded manner.
• under the table
  under the table

  adjective

  (under-the-table when prenominal) done illicitly and secretly

under-the-table

American  

[uhn-der-thuh-tay-buhl] / ˈʌn dər ðəˈteɪ bəl /

adjective

1. transacted in secret or in an underhanded manner.

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under the table British  

adjective

1. (under-the-table when prenominal) done illicitly and secretly

2. slang drunk

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under the table Idioms  

1. In secret, as in They paid her under the table so as to avoid taxes. This term alludes to money being passed under a table in some shady transaction, such as a bribe. [Mid-1900s] Also see under the counter.

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Etymology

Origin of under-the-table

First recorded in 1945–50

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Explanation

Anything that happens under-the-table is taking place secretly, like under-the-table payments that are illegal. The things on a table are easily seen, but it's not as easy to see what's happening under the table. That can help you remember that under-the-table activities are secret, covert, confidential, and sometimes illegal. If two businesses have an under-the-table agreement, no one else knows about it. If a company pays someone under-the-table, the money is not documented and therefore won't be taxed. Just about everything spies do happens under-the-table.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

under-the-table under the table

We were not asking for a discount or proposing any kind of under-the-table deal.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

North Korea’s pre-Covid economy had increasingly centered on black markets selling goods smuggled from China or under-the-table local goods—and with it the rise of a “donju” merchant class who made their wealth outside state control.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026

Her mother, Mirian, had recently left an under-the-table job at a Queens restaurant that paid just $500 for 84 hours of work each week.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2024

Pilot’s former CEO also extended the offer of under-the-table payments to at least 10 other executives in April, according to Berkshire’s filing.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 29, 2023

The lady walked gravely toward him, whereupon William again followed the under-the-table route, and finally flopped into a chair by his own desk.

From William Adolphus Turnpike by William Banks

As they sneak bites of steak under the table, Y and Yasmin know their non-careers are doomed to end.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026

I'm keeping my battered bowler hat under the table in case you grace us with another round of radio brilliance.

From BBC ● Mar. 12, 2026

It’s a better and more transparent system than, say, local car dealers offering athletes tricked-out pickup trucks under the table.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025

Reliable economic figures are hard to come by and a large portion of incomes are earned under the table in the informal sector.

From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2025

If he looked under the table, he knew he’d see Freddy pinching him.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

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Related Words

• banned
• criminal
• illegitimate
• illicit
• irregular
• outlawed
• prohibited
• smuggled
• unauthorized
• unconstitutional
• unlawful
• unlicensed
• unwarranted
• wrongful

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