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under the table

[/ˈʌndər ðə ˈteɪbəl/]
adverbial phrase
debaixo da mesa; ilegal; clandestino
1. In a secret or illegal manner; conducted without official records or tax documentation
He was paid under the table for his work at the restaurant.
Ele foi pago debaixo da mesa pelo seu trabalho no restaurante.
2. Conducted covertly or dishonestly, often to avoid legal obligations
The deal was made under the table to avoid taxes.
O negócio foi feito debaixo da mesa para evitar impostos.
3. Hidden, concealed, or not openly acknowledged
They exchanged money under the table during the meeting.
Eles trocaram dinheiro debaixo da mesa durante a reunião.
NYC Slang
off the books
Synonyms
off the bookscovertlyillegallyclandestinelysecretly
Antonyms
above boardlegallyofficiallytransparentlyopenly

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
debaixo da mesa
Most common usage in Brazilian Portuguese
General Brazilian
na informalidade
Alternative expression emphasizing informal/undeclared nature
Portugal
debaixo da mesa
Same as Brazilian usage
Portugal
ilicitamente
More formal alternative emphasizing illegal nature

Related Idioms & Phrases

under the radar
hush money
off the record
backroom deal
side deal
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