Hit the books

[0945] Under the table

🎲 Under wraps
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Done or paid secretly, often because the activity is illegal, unethical, or intended to avoid taxes, regulations, or scrutiny.

Origin

  • Evokes the image of passing money or making a deal literally under a table, hidden from view.
  • This secrecy implies that the transaction is not official, not recorded (off the books), and often illicit.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Off the books
  • Secretly / Clandestinely / Illicitly
  • On the sly / On the quiet / On the QT
  • Cash-in-hand (Often implies tax avoidance)
  • Backhander (UK/Aus usually implies a bribe)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Off the books
  • On the down-low / On the DL (Secretly)
  • Cash deal / Cashie (Aus) (Often implies no tax)
  • Backhander / Bung (UK/Aus bribe)
  • Shady deal

Milder/Standard:

  • Unreported payment/income
  • Unofficial transaction
  • Secret arrangement
  • Illicit payment

More Direct/Negative:

  • Illegally
  • Unethically
  • Tax evasion
  • Bribery

Situational Appropriateness

  • Generally informal when *describing* such actions.
  • The act itself is often illegal or unethical, so proposing or agreeing to an under-the-table deal is highly sensitive and inappropriate in formal or ethical contexts.
  • Use extreme caution. Discussing it might imply participation or condoning, depending on tone and context.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Learners must grasp the strong negative connotation of illegality or shadiness. It's not just secretly, but usually secretly *because* it's wrong/illegal.

Examples

  • The landlord insisted on being paid rent under the table in cash.
  • Some companies try to hire workers under the table to avoid paying benefits and taxes.
  • He received an under the table payment to keep quiet about the company's faulty products. (This implies a bribe).

Dialogue

Client: Your quote is a bit high. Is there any flexibility?

Contractor: Well, the official price includes taxes and insurance. If you wanted to pay cash, under the table... I could probably do it for 20% less. No receipt, though.

Client: Hmm, I'm not comfortable with that. It feels risky not having official paperwork. Let's stick to the official quote.

Social Media Examples

  • Warning Post: Be wary of employers offering to pay you under the table. You lose legal protections & benefits! #WorkerRights #FairPay
  • News Commentary: Reports suggest illegal payments were made under the table to influence the vote. #Corruption #Scandal
  • Forum Discussion: Is it ever okay to accept cash under the table for small jobs? What are the risks? #Ethics #Taxes

Response Patterns

  • Disapproval/Concern: That's illegal! / That sounds risky. / Is that ethical?
  • Suspicion: Why would they do that?
  • Curiosity (use cautiously): How much?
  • Sometimes neutral acknowledgment if just reporting: Ah, okay, so it was off the books.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After hearing about an under-the-table deal:

  • Ask about the legality or ethics involved.
  • Inquire about the reasons for the secrecy.
  • Discuss the potential consequences or risks.

Conversation Starter

  • No. Describes a secret, often illicit, transaction or arrangement.

Intonation

  • Emphasis on under and table. The payment was made UNDER the TABLE.

Generation Differences

  • Widely understood by adults familiar with concepts like taxes, regulations, and illicit dealings.

Regional Variations

  • Common in most English-speaking regions.
Hit the books
🎲 Under wraps