under the counter

1 of 2

phrase

: by surreptitious means : in an illicit and private manner

workers being paid under the counter

under-the-counter

2 of 2

adjective

un·​der-the-count·​er ˈən-dər-ṯẖə-ˈkau̇n-tər 

: surreptitious and usually irregular or illicit

under-the-counter liquor sales

Examples of under the counter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Behind the bar, crammed into a small station barely wide enough for one person, were two rice cookers, a combination oven, an induction burner and an under-the-counter fridge. —Priya Krishna, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

By night, his father would lend him his binoculars to spy on women through their windows, filling in any gaps in his anatomical understanding with whatever under-the-counter girly magazines had managed to wiggle through Italy’s draconian censorship. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2024

Filtering your water If PFAS levels are concerning, consumers can purchase an under-the-counter water filter for their tap. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

Have a variety — an overhead light; warm-toned, under-the-counter LED task strips. —Kim Cook, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from the hiding of illicit wares under the counter of stores where they are sold

First Known Use

Adjective

1926, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for under the counter

• encounter