Meaning of UNDER THE TABLE and OFF THE BOOKS - A Short English Lesson with Subtitles

4,823 views ・ 2020-01-31

Bob's Short English Lessons


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So in Canada like in most countries
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when you have a job you have to pay taxes.
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When you get your paycheck there is a certain amount
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of money that goes straight to the government,
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you don't see it at all.
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Unless, you work under the table.
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This is illegal in Canada,
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but if you work under the table for someone it means
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that instead of taking money off your paycheck
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to send to the government to pay your income taxes,
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they just give you cash.
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So instead of a paycheck they just give you an envelope
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with lots of 20, or 50, or $100 bills in it.
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Again it is illegal to work under the table in Canada,
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but there are people in Canada who work under the table
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and so their boss just gives them cash
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to pay them instead of giving them a paycheck.
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When you work under the table though,
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you usually don't make as much money
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as you would make if you had a real job.
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We have another phrase, off the books.
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And this means something very very similar.
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When somebody keeps something off the books,
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it means they do not write down what they've done.
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So sometimes when you get paid under the table,
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you can also say that you are getting paid off the books.
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So the person who is paying you does not write down
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that they paid you,
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and they don't put it into their computer.
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So, when you work under the table it means
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that you get paid cash.
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That means they actually give you money
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as bills instead of giving you a paycheck.
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And when someone does something off the books,
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it means that they do not write it down,
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or enter it into a computer.
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Anyways, Bob the Canadian here
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and you're learning English with me.
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It's Friday today.
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I'm going home from work soon
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and I hope that you have a good weekend
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and I hope I have a good weekend too.
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See ya on Monday.
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