Meaning & use
pay under the table
Last updated
UK/ˌpeɪ ʌndə ðə ˈteɪbl/
US/ˌpeɪ ʌndər ðə ˈteɪbl/
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformalfigurative
To pay someone secretly and illegally, often to avoid taxes or official records.
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase: 'pay someone under the table'. It does not take an object directly after 'pay' without 'someone'.
Patterns
- pay someone under the table
- be paid under the table
- work under the table
The company was caught paying workers under the table to avoid taxes.
He earns extra money by doing under-the-table jobs.
Paying under the table is illegal and can lead to fines.
Common combinations
- pay cash under the table
- They agreed to pay cash under the table to keep the deal secret.
- under-the-table payment
- The politician was accused of accepting under-the-table payments.
- work under the table
- Many immigrants work under the table because they lack permits.
Synonyms and how they differ
- off the books
- Similar meaning, but can also refer to legitimate but unofficial payments.
- illicitly
- A more formal adverb meaning illegally; 'under the table' is the informal phrase.
Opposites
above board
Practice
What does 'pay under the table' mean?
Choose one answer.
'Pay under the table' means to pay secretly, often to avoid taxes. The other options are literal or unrelated.
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