under the counter

Covertly or secretly (and, often, illegally). If you're selling alcohol under the counter, you could get into a lot of trouble.

See also: counter

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

under the counter

Fig. [bought or sold] in secret or illegally. (Compare this to over the counter.) The drugstore owner was arrested for selling liquor under the counter. The clerk sold dirty books under the counter.

See also: counter

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

under the counter

Secretly, surreptitiously, as in I'm sure they're selling liquor to minors under the counter. This expression most often alludes to an illegal transaction, the counter being the flat-surfaced furnishing or table over which legal business is conducted. It was first recorded in 1926. Also see under the table.

See also: counter

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

under the counter

BRITISH

If you buy or pay for something under the counter, you do it in a secret and dishonest or illegal way. The shirts disappeared from the displays but could still be purchased under the counter as recently as last Friday. Most of the trading was done under the counter, through some form of black-market barter. Note: You can also talk about an under-the-counter payment or deal, meaning one that is secret and dishonest or illegal. It was becoming common practice for athletes to receive under-the-counter payments from organizers to attend meetings. Any under-the-counter money deals were against company policy. Note: The usual American expression is under the table. Note: In Britain, during the Second World War, shopkeepers sometimes kept articles that were in great demand under the shop counter. They only sold them to special customers, often charging very high prices for them.

See also: counter

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

under the counter (or table)

(with reference to goods bought or sold) surreptitiously and usually illegally.

1994 Coarse Fishing Today The obvious danger is that river fish will be pinched and flogged ‘under the counter’.

See also: counter

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

under the ˈcounter

(of goods bought or sold in a shop) secretly or illegally: Before the revolution, such luxuries were only sold under the counter.

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.

See also: counter

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

under the counter

In an illegal or surreptitious manner; illicitly: arrested for selling prescription drugs under the counter.

See also: counter

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

See also:

go counter
counter with
counter with (something)
on one's
on someone's
give the lie to
give the lie to (something)
give the lie to something
other than
other than (something)

词组	under the counter
释义	under the counter under the counter Covertly or secretly (and, often, illegally). If you're selling alcohol under the counter, you could get into a lot of trouble. See also: counter Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. under the counter Fig. [bought or sold] in secret or illegally. (Compare this to over the counter.) The drugstore owner was arrested for selling liquor under the counter. The clerk sold dirty books under the counter. See also: counter McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. under the counter Secretly, surreptitiously, as in I'm sure they're selling liquor to minors under the counter. This expression most often alludes to an illegal transaction, the counter being the flat-surfaced furnishing or table over which legal business is conducted. It was first recorded in 1926. Also see under the table. See also: counter The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. under the counter BRITISH If you buy or pay for something under the counter, you do it in a secret and dishonest or illegal way. The shirts disappeared from the displays but could still be purchased under the counter as recently as last Friday. Most of the trading was done under the counter, through some form of black-market barter. Note: You can also talk about an under-the-counter payment or deal, meaning one that is secret and dishonest or illegal. It was becoming common practice for athletes to receive under-the-counter payments from organizers to attend meetings. Any under-the-counter money deals were against company policy. Note: The usual American expression is under the table. Note: In Britain, during the Second World War, shopkeepers sometimes kept articles that were in great demand under the shop counter. They only sold them to special customers, often charging very high prices for them. See also: counter Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. under the counter (or table) (with reference to goods bought or sold) surreptitiously and usually illegally. 1994 Coarse Fishing Today The obvious danger is that river fish will be pinched and flogged ‘under the counter’. See also: counter Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary under the ˈcounter (of goods bought or sold in a shop) secretly or illegally: Before the revolution, such luxuries were only sold under the counter. 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. See also: counter Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary under the counter In an illegal or surreptitious manner; illicitly: arrested for selling prescription drugs under the counter. See also: counter American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. See also: go counter counter with counter with (something) on one's on someone's give the lie to give the lie to (something) give the lie to something other than other than (something)
随便看	on Carey Street on case once once a..., always a... once again once again/once more once and again once and for all once and future once a priest, always a priest once a (something), always a (something) once a something, always a something once a whore, always a whore once bitten, twice shy once hell freezes over once in a blue moon once in a lifetime once-in-a-lifetime chance once-in-a-lifetime experience once-in-a-lifetime opportunity once-in-a-lifetime situation once in a while once more once or twice once-over