摘要：under the table秘密地、私下地进行，尤指为规避法律、规则或隐瞒他人（如避税、逃避监管、隐瞒关系等），且多与“金钱交易、利益交换或需隐藏的关系/行为”相关，区别于单纯的“in secret”（宽泛的“秘密”），更强调“规避制度或不想被公开记录”的属

under the table秘密地、私下地进行，尤指为规避法律、规则或隐瞒他人（如避税、逃避监管、隐瞒关系等），且多与“金钱交易、利益交换或需隐藏的关系/行为”相关，区别于单纯的“in secret”（宽泛的“秘密”），更强调“规避制度或不想被公开记录”的属性。

在商业交易、贿赂或私下约定中，人们为避免被他人看见（如避税、行贿时不想留下书面记录），会在“桌子底下”传递金钱或信物，由此引申为“秘密地、私下地进行”，尤其聚焦“需规避规则的私下操作”，至今仍保留“与金钱、利益相关的秘密性”核心意象。

如：

Some teachers offer extra lessons under the table to make more money, which violates the school’s rules.

有些老师私下有偿补课赚外快，这违反了学校规定。

The small factory pays its workers under the table so it doesn’t have to pay social security taxes.

这家小工厂给工人发黑钱（私下付薪），以逃避缴纳社保税。

She saved some money under the table without telling her husband, in case of emergency.

她瞒着丈夫私下存了些钱，以防万一有紧急情况。

They’ve been seeing each other under the table because her family doesn’t accept him as a partner.

他们一直私下交往，因为她的家人不接受他做伴侣。

He gave her a necklace under the table—he didn’t want their friends to tease them about being too affectionate.

他私下给了她一条项链——不想让朋友们调侃他们太腻歪。

Their relationship was under the table for months; they only told everyone after they got engaged.

他们的恋情秘密进行了好几个月，直到订婚才告诉所有人。

The businessman gave money under the table to the politician to get the construction project approved.

这位商人私下给政客行贿，以获得这个建筑项目的审批。

The two countries held talks under the table before the official diplomatic meeting, to resolve minor disputes in advance.

在正式外交会议前，两国私下举行了会谈，提前解决小分歧。

The spy passed the confidential document under the table to his contact, to avoid being watched by security.

间谍私下将机密文件递给接头人，以防被安保人员监视。

The restaurant owner pays me under the table for protection. If he gets robbed, I take care of it. Carmela: You know that’s illegal, right?

餐厅老板私下给我保护费。要是他被抢了，我来处理。卡梅拉：你知道这是违法的，对吧？《黑道家族》

来源：翅膀英语一点号