under-the-counter

[ uhn-der-thuh-koun-ter ]

adjective

1. (of merchandise) sold clandestinely.
2. illegal; unauthorized:

   under-the-counter payments.

Word History and Origins

Origin of under-the-counter¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Idioms and Phrases

Secretly, surreptitiously, as in I'm sure they're selling liquor to minors under the counter . This expression most often alludes to an illegal transaction, the counter being the flat-surfaced furnishing or table over which legal business is conducted. It was first recorded in 1926. Also see under the table .

Example Sentences

Lentini became the world's most expensive footballer and Borsano got his hands on £3.3m in under-the-counter cash.

From BBC

After unsuccessfully canvassing friends for abortion medication, her husband bought some under-the-counter misoprostol pills — which are also used to treat stomach ulcers — from a pharmacy in a town close to the Turkish border.

From Los Angeles Times

Emma expects to wrap up her master’s degree in August, an accomplishment far exceeding the expectations of her parents, who migrated to the United States from Mexico undocumented in 1989, and worked in low-wage, under-the-counter service jobs to make a living.

From Washington Post

“We can grow almost all leafy green vegetables, most culinary herbs, some ornamental flowers, and a few fruiting varieties such as peppers which is unique to our under-the-counter model,” Massey said.

From Washington Times

Sales of chest freezers and under-the-counter freezers are up, a trend which normally happens in the run-up to Christmas as people stock up, the AO.com spokesperson added.

From BBC