under-the-counter
[ uhn-der-th uh-koun-ter ]
/ ˈʌn dər ðəˈkaʊn tər /
adjective
(of merchandise) sold clandestinely.
illegal; unauthorized: under-the-counter payments.
Origin of under-the-counter
First recorded in 1945–50
Words nearby under-the-counter
under the weather,
under the wire,
under way,
under wraps,
under-,
under-the-counter,
under-the-table,
underachieve,
underachiever,
underact,
underactive
Definition for under the counter (2 of 2)
counter
1
[ koun-ter ]
/ ˈkaʊn tər /
noun
a table or display case on which goods can be shown, business transacted, etc.
(in restaurants, luncheonettes, etc.) a long, narrow table with stools or chairs along one side for the patrons, behind which refreshments or meals are prepared and served.
a surface for the preparation of food in a kitchen, especially on a low cabinet.
anything used in keeping account, as a disk of metal or wood, used in some games, as checkers, for marking a player's position or for keeping score.
an imitation coin or token.
a coin; money.
British Dictionary definitions for under the counter (1 of 3)
counter
1
/ (ˈkaʊntə) /
noun
Word Origin for counter
C14: from Old French
comptouer, ultimately from Latin
computāre to
compute
British Dictionary definitions for under the counter (2 of 3)
Word Origin for counter
C15: from Old French
contre, from Latin
contrā against
British Dictionary definitions for under the counter (3 of 3)
counter
3
/ (ˈkaʊntə) /
noun
a person who counts
an apparatus that records the number of occurrences of events
any instrument for detecting or counting ionizing particles or photons
See Geiger counter, scintillation counter, crystal counter
electronics another name for scaler (def. 2)
Word Origin for counter
C14: from Old French
conteor, from Latin
computātor; see
count
1
Medical definitions for under the counter
counter
[ koun′tər ]
n.
One that counts, especially an electronic or mechanical device that automatically counts occurrences or repetitions of phenomena or events.
Idioms and Phrases with under the counter (1 of 2)
under the counter
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.
Idioms and Phrases with under the counter (2 of 2)
counter
see run counter to; under the counter.