counter /ˈkaʊntə(r)/► SEE ALLover the counterunder the countera bargaining counter ●over the ˈcountergoods, especially medicines, for sale over the counter can be bought without written permission from a doctor（买药）不用处方◆These tablets are available over the counter. 这些药片不用处方就可买到。●under the ˈcounter (of goods bought or sold in a shop商品买卖) secretly or illegally秘密地；偷偷摸摸地；非法地◆Before the revolution, such luxuries were only sold under the counter. 革命前，这样的奢侈品只能私下交易。NOTE This refers to illegal goods or goods that are only available in small quantities that are hidden, for example under the counter of the store, so that the police or general public cannot see them.这个习语原指非法商品或供应量极小的商品通常被藏在诸如柜台底下等处，不让警方或公众看到。●a ˈbargaining counter (BrE) ( a ˈbargaining chipNAmE, BrE) a special advantage in negotiations, disputes, etc. which can be offered in exchange for sth（在谈判、争论等中）可用于讨价还价的优势；谈判筹码◆The proposed troop reductions were a useful bargaining counter in the disarmament talks.裁减兵员的提议是这次裁军谈判中一个有用的讨价还价的筹码。