Make Your Point > Archived Issues > TABLE

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pronounce TABLE: Say it "TAY bull." To hear it, click here. connect this word to others: Today we're checking out the verb table, which extends the metaphor of people working together at a table, putting ideas on it, then taking ideas off it. When I originally shared this word with subscribers back in 2015, I heard from Andrew, a reader based in Hong Kong, that the word table is used outside the United States to mean "to put ON the table: to open it up for discussion." But here in the US, it means "to take OFF the table: to close it up, to end any discussion of it." So, our word table is a contronym: a word with opposite meanings. Kind of like our word p___se, which can mean either "to read carefully" or "to read carelessly." (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) definition: Outside the United States, to "table" something often means to put it on the table: in other words, to officially bring it up so that people can talk about it and consider it, as if they're sitting around together at a table. Here in the United States, to "table" something often means to take it off the table: in other words, to officially remove it from talks or from consideration, either for just right now or forever. grammatical bits: Part of speech: Verb, the transitive kind: "they tabled the measure," "the possibility has been tabled." Other forms: tabled, tabling how to use it: Like "dismiss," "discard," and "shelve," the verb "table" is a formal one. It's something that people do with authority. When you talk about groups of people who table things, those groups are in charge of certain decisions--and they table things often by taking a vote. So they're usually lawmakers or other government officials. Talk about these people tabling bills, ideas, requests, proposals, amendments, resolutions, ordinances, etc. Basically, if it's any kind of possibility--that is, if you can put it on the table for consideration--then you can also table it: take it off the table. However, as you'll see in a moment, you generally stick to tabling bureaucratic things, unless you're Mr. T. examples: "The House on Wednesday afternoon voted overwhelmingly to table a resolution proposed by Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) on whether to immediately consider articles of impeachment against President Trump, effectively killing the measure."    — The Week, 17 July 2019 "Clothes express your personality. So express yourself, not someone else! Do Calvin Klein, Bill Blass, or Gloria Vanderbilt wear clothes with your name on it? No! Of course not! So you table the label! And wear your own name!"    — Mr. T, Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!, 1984 has this page helped you understand "table"? Awesome, I'm glad it helped! Thanks for letting me know! If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. study it: Explain the meaning of "table" without saying "shelve" or "put on the back burner." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "We agreed to table any discussions of _____ until after _____." Example: "We agreed to table any discussions of finance terms until after we'd nailed down the purchase price." If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.) before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Rhyming Puzzles! I give you a description of something, and you name it in a rhyming phrase. For example, if I say, "This is an ideal environment for a large tree-dwelling lizard--one in which this creature is perfectly happy and peaceful," then you say, "That's iguana nirvana." The answers will get longer and sillier as the month goes on. If you'd like to see the clue, click or mouse-over the link. I'll share each answer the following day. Enjoy! From the previous issue: Your views about the meaning of life have grown complex over the years, but you're determined to compress them into a short, pithy summary to share with your grandchildren. You've struggled for months to write this little summary, but all of your attempts have fallen short. Suddenly, a light bulb goes off above your head! You've got it! You know exactly how you'll phrase everything! You've just experienced an _______ ________. (Two words, four syllables each. Clue: use this word. And, use a second Make Your Point word.) Answer: epitome epiphany. Try this one today: If all the sellers of essential oils on Etsy got together to ban and shame one of their own for having made and marketed a supposedly holy healing oil containing the feathers of a cute and oversized flightless bird, that would be an _______ ______ ________. (Three words. The first two words have two syllables each. The last word has four syllables. Clue: use a form of this word, as well as another Make Your Point word.) review this word: 1. A near opposite of TABLE (in its American sense) is A. DEBUNK. B. BROACH. C. EVINCE. 2. Tabling her curiosity, she _____. A. asked one question after another B. peeked around the door frame, eyes wide C. made a note of the response and moved on 1. B 2. C a final word: I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.