under the table

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  (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

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

See also: table