under the counter

under the counter
under the counter
Fig. [bought or sold] in secret or illegally. (Compare this to over the counter.) •

The drugstore owner was arrested for selling liquor under the counter.

The clerk sold dirty books under the counter.

* * *
{adv. phr.}, {informal} Secretly (bought or sold). * /That book has been banned, but there is one place you can get it under the counter./ * /The liquor dealer was arrested for selling beer under the counter to teenagers./ - Also used like an adjective, with hyphens. * /During World War II, some stores kept scarce things hidden for under-the-counter-sales to good customers./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • under the counter — {adv. phr.}, {informal} Secretly (bought or sold). * /That book has been banned, but there is one place you can get it under the counter./ * /The liquor dealer was arrested for selling beer under the counter to teenagers./ Also used like an… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • under the counter — ► goods or services that are sold or available under the counter can be bought or obtained secretly and sometimes illegally: »Pirate DVDs are available under the counter in pubs and clubs everywhere. »under the counter deals Main Entry: ↑counter …   Financial and business terms

  • under-the-counter — adj informal under the counter goods are bought or sold secretly, especially because they are illegal …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • under the counter — ► under the counter (or table) (with reference to goods bought or sold) surreptitiously and illegally. Main Entry: ↑counter …   English terms dictionary

  • under-the-counter — [un′dər thətā′bəlun′dər thə koun′tər] adj. Informal done, sold, given, etc. secretly in an unlawful or unethical way: also under the table [un′dər thətā′bəl] …   English World dictionary

  • under-the-counter — adjective bought or sold secretly or illegally …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • under the counter — adverb : in a stealthy or surreptitious manner : illicitly and privately : according to an arrangement that does not apply to a total clientele * * * under the counter phrase bought or sold secretly and illegally They sell pornography under the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • under-the-counter — adjective done or sold illicitly and secretly • Similar to: ↑illegal * * * | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective of a sale : made from concealed stocks of scarce or rare goods or goods priced below the legal fixed price; broadly : unlawful, illicit …   Useful english dictionary

  • Under the Counter — Infobox Album | Name = Under the Counter Type = Studio Artist = Goldie Lookin Chain Released = March 17, 2008 Genre = Hip Hop Length = 33:52 Label = Shellshock Producer = P Xain Reviews = * Rock Sound (8/10) [http://www.rock… …   Wikipedia

  • under the counter — 1. adverb Illicitly, against regulations, of goods kept under the serving counter in a shop to be unobtrusively passed to a customer who knows they are available for surreptitious sale (e.g. pornographic magazines in a newsagent). Oh, yeah, I… …   Wiktionary

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