Meaning
Done secretly, dishonestly, or illegally, especially referring to money changed hands without official record — a bribe, unreported payment, or black-market deal.
It’s used across contexts from petty personal favors to large-scale corruption, always implying concealment from authorities or the public.
Origin
The image is of literally passing money or goods beneath a table, out of sight of other people present, so the exchange goes unnoticed and unrecorded — closely tied to the practice of bribery, unreported cash payments, or illicit deals traditionally done this way to avoid detection. The specific figurative use of “under the table” for such secret, dishonest dealings became well established in English by the mid-20th century.
Examples
He paid the contractor under the table to avoid taxes.
The deal was done under the table, with no paperwork at all.
She got paid under the table for the extra work.
A: Is this job official? B: No, it’s all under the table.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Under the table' mean?
Done secretly, dishonestly, or illegally, especially referring to money changed hands without official record — a bribe, unreported payment, or black-market deal.
It’s used across contexts from petty personal favors to large-scale corruption, always implying concealment from authorities or the public.