off the table
60
5.5
- idiom
:
descartado
- Climate cap-and-trade is off the table in the Senate for now.
- take off the table
- option off the table
Just so you know, with us, it's never off the table.
- Just so you know, with us, it's never off the table.
- If you succeed at that, that means total worldwide warfare is off the table as an existential risk.
- Very safe, had no issues with it but unfortunately it's off the table.
- Maybe I listen, I am all nothing is off the table for me when it comes to conspiracies.
- And if that's off the table, then everything else kind of shrinks in comparison.
- And Pete Buttigieg says that currently raising the gas tax is off the table, at least for now.
Examples
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And it's because of that that you must tell Mr. DeSouza... ...that our offer is off the table.
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We have not taken any option off the table.
Academic text (1998) -
Deal is off the table for good now.
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The offer is off the table.
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We keep negotiating until all other options are off the table.
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This means that everything we've agreed upon now is off the table.
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Most politicians and pundits insist that it's off the table.
Academic text (2005) -
And if that's off the table, then everything else kind of shrinks in comparison.
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The proposal for the new park is off the table after the recent budget cuts.
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After the disagreement, all options regarding the contract are off the table.
Antonyms
How Available
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from 'off' (removed/not in effect) plus the idea of the table as the locus of discussion or options, so 'off the table' = removed from consideration. This locative/metaphorical composition is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The idiom off the table comes from the simple image of taking an offer or item away from a table. When something is lifted off the table, it is no longer there to use or discuss, so off the table means 'no longer available or being considered'.