under the table
Related to under the table: drink under the table
under the table
1. Secretly (often because what is being done is illegal). Because I get paid under the table, no taxes come out of my paycheck.
2. Drunk. Do you remember last night at the bar at all? You were really under the table!
See also: table
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
under the table
1. Sl. intoxicated. Jed was under the table by midnight. By 3:00 in the morning, everyone was under the table.
2. Fig. secret; clandestine. (This is hyphenated before a nominal.) It was strictly an under-the-table deal. The mayor made a few bucks under the table, too.
See also: table
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
under the table
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.
See also: table
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
under the table
mainly AMERICANIf you do something, especially pay or accept money, under the table, you do it secretly because it is dishonest or illegal. Athletes sometimes lied, or took money under the table. They are selling their films at the festival's market but they're doing it under the table. Note: An under-the-table payment or deal is one that is secret and dishonest or illegal. He was accused of making under-the-table payments. There will be no more under-the-table cash. Note: The usual British expression is under the counter.
See also: table
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
under the table
drunk to the point of unconsciousness. informal 1921 W. Somerset Maugham The Trembling of a Leaf Walker had always been a heavy drinker, he was proud of his capacity to see men half his age under the table.
See also: table
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
under the table
1. mod. alcohol intoxicated. Jed was under the table by midnight.
2. mod. secret; clandestine. (This is hyphenated before a nominal.) It was strictly an under-the-table deal.
See also: table
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
under the table
1. In secret.
2. Into a completely intoxicated state: drank themselves under the table.
See also: table
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
under the table
Secret and dishonest. This term alludes to money literally being passed under a table in some dishonest transaction, such as a bribe or cheating at cards. During Prohibition, there arose a variant, under the counter, alluding to illegal liquor sales. Later, during World War II, this same term applied to rationed or black-market items kept there by storekeepers for favored customers.
See also: table
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- blind drunk
- the roof caves in
- the roof falls in
- all mops and brooms
- blinded
- blind
- big ticket
- big-ticket
- booze
- work under the table