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under the table

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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

under the table

secretly and often illegally A lot of these people work 80 hours a week, and they are paid under the table.

See also: table

under the table

  (American & Australian)

money that is paid under the table is paid secretly, usually because it is illegal A lot of these people work 80-hour weeks with all or half of their salaries paid under the table. (American)

See bring to the [bargaining etc.] table, drink under the table

See also: table

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

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

under the table

1. In secret.

2. Into a completely intoxicated state: drank themselves under the table.

See also: table