under-the-table
9
7.5
- adjective
:
bajo la mesa
- Tragically, as a declining bird species gains legal protection, it becomes more valuable in under-the-table transactions.
- paid under-the-table
- under-the-table payments
- under-the-table deal
We'll let them work for free, under the table, tax free, and we'll just tax you guys more.
- We'll let them work for free, under the table, tax free, and we'll just tax you guys more.
- He goes, how about, you know, like getting a job and getting paid like cash, you know, under the table.
- What does not qualify would be your spouse, your dependents, parents, your children, and babysitters have paid under the table.
Examples
-
Castor strongly suggested that these under-the-table transactions were, in fact, "kickbacks," and Munson did not disagree.
Blog text (23) -
I think the majority of travelers will work under the table whenever possible, avoiding things like work permits.
Blog text (3) -
So of course, I found a job under the table at this company.
-
We'll let them work for free, under the table, tax free, and we'll just tax you guys more.
-
Do they put money under the table so they can get away with this?
Blog text (34) -
The worst thing he said is that it all happens under the table.
Blog text (29) -
I technically worked under the table for the first two years of my high school career.
-
This restaurant pays me under the table.
-
They're paying him cash under the table.
-
I worked under-the-table at a restaurant to earn some extra cash without anyone knowing.
Synonyms
261
1.4
In a way that other people do not know
153
5.7
Hidden and done secretly to avoid being found by authorities
117
4.9
In a private way, away from the public view
112
4.1
In private and not open to the public
56
2.5
In a way other people do not know
40
9.9
In secret so other people do not know
33
4.3
Happening in private and away from public view
28
6.0
Most people do not know about it
17
6.9
In a secret way so other people do not know
16
7.2
Acting secretly and dishonestly to gain an advantage over others
4
8.0
In a secret way to avoid being seen or found
1
6.7
Hidden from users and working behind the scenes
1
7.4
To sell things secretly when this is not allowed
1
7.4
Someone acts secretly and dishonestly to trick or cheat others
1
9.9
In a secret way to keep something private
1
7.7
In private and away from public attention
In secret so only a few people know
Happening secretly to keep it private
Kept secret and not told to other people
Antonyms
How Secret
Surface Forms
Morphology
under-the-table = table (semi-transparent) = under + the + table
The phrase literally means 'beneath a table' which suggests hiddenness, but its idiomatic use to mean 'secret/illicit' is an extended, somewhat idiomatic sense not strictly predictable from the components. [Postprocessing: moved 'under' from base_words to prefix]
Etymology
Under-the-table comes from the clear image of putting money under a table to hide it from view. So under-the-table means 'secret' or 'unofficial', often used for hidden payments or deals to avoid rules or taxes.