- Home
- Idioms
- over the counter
over the counter
over the counter
Fig. [of medication bought or sold] without a prescription. (Hyphenated when prenominal. See also under the counter.) This is a good product. You can buy it over the counter. I don't put much trust in over-the-counter medications.
over the counter
if a type of medicine is available over the counter, you can buy it without the permission of a doctor You can't buy antibiotics over the counter - they're a prescription drug.
over the counter
1. Without being listed or available on an officially recognized stock exchange but in trade by direct negotiation between buyers and sellers: bought stocks over the counter.
2. Without a doctor's prescription being legally required: cold medicine that is available over the counter.