under-the-table

American  

[uhn-der-thuh-tey-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

Example Sentences

B, an excellent student, can’t afford college — not being a citizen, he can’t apply for federal aid — so his future looks like under-the-table server jobs.

From Seattle Times

The most common job for these children is under-the-table work in roofing and construction, according to teachers, social workers, labor organizers and federal investigators.

From Seattle Times

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

Its lawyers coined the term “student-athlete” in the 1950s, but since under-the-table payments still existed it was offered with a cynical wink.

From Los Angeles Times

The revelations caused a huge scandal and inspired mammoth state probes into the scale of under-the-table lobbying in Irish politics.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

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