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to table

to table

20 7.3
To delay discussion or a decision about something until later
  • verb
  • /ˈteɪbəl/
  • Formal
: aplazar
  • On January 9, Johnson moved to table Anderson's proposal for the constitutional option.
  • table a motion
  • move to table
  • table an appeal

Let's let's take that and table it for later.

Examples

  • The announcement comes two weeks after voting 5-1 to table the decision.

    Blog text (15)
  • In a final step, the majority could move to table the appeal.

    Academic text (2004)
  • We can table that for a later date.

  • Could we table that for a moment? - Why? -

  • Okay, well, let's table that for now.

  • Okay, let's table this for now.

  • Could we table this discussion right now?

  • The conference leaders tried but failed to table the subject, and discussion continued.

    Academic text (2009)
  • "Let's table this conversation until after the service," she says.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • The committee decided to table the discussion on the new policy until next month.

Synonyms

to delay
vsto table
442 1.4

To make something happen later than planned

is about postponing formal discussion of proposals rather than delaying events generally
to stall
vsto table
218 4.3

To delay doing something on purpose to get more time

describes a formal deferment of discussion rather than tactical time buying
to postpone
vsto table
214 3.4

To delay something until a later time because of a problem

focuses on delaying consideration of a proposal rather than general rescheduling
to put off
vsto table
129 2.9

Delay something until a later time

is specifically about delaying formal consideration of motions or proposals
to defer
vsto table
  • Formal
68 5.5

To delay something until a later time

is a procedural postponement often used in deliberative bodies rather than casual delays
to hold off on
vsto table
41 4.2

To wait before doing something

refers particularly to delaying formal discussion or voting rather than personal actions
to shelve
vsto table
14 5.0

To stop work on a plan or project for now

can mean a temporary postponement of consideration rather than permanent abandonment
8 5.6

To delay dealing with something until later and make it less important

is about delaying consideration in formal settings rather than lowering priority informally
to stall for time
vsto table
  • Informal
6 4.8

To delay doing something to get more time

is a formal pause in considering a proposal rather than a tactical stall
to hold over
vsto table
5 4.6

To keep something for use or sale after its planned time

focuses on delaying deliberation of proposals rather than extending time frames
to put on ice
vsto table
2 5.8

To delay a plan or project for a while

is specifically about deferring formal debate on a motion rather than pausing work
to bench
vsto table
  • Formal
1 7.4

To delay decision on a proposal until later

is the general act of postponing discussion, not limited to committee practice
1 4.2

Delay making a decision by waiting instead of choosing

is about procedural postponement of discussion rather than personal indecision

Idioms

260 3.5

Available for discussion or decision later

73 5.5

Not available to be considered or accepted

20 2.8

To earn enough money to support yourself or your family

The right to take part in important decisions

To be completely open and honest about your plans or feelings

to run the table
  • Informal
5 7.3

Win every game or match in a series without losing any

5 8.2

Drink more alcohol than another person until they become drunk

To gain a respected place in a group by working hard

To talk longer and more skillfully so the other person cannot answer

1 9.6

To speak more and make others stop talking

Phrasal Verbs

To give useful ideas or skills to a group

Remove dishes and other things from the table after a meal

To hit a table with your hand to demand action or get attention

to clear the table
  • Specialized
1 4.2

Remove all rows from a database table to make it empty

Compounds

94 1.2

A low table in front of a sofa for drinks and magazines

78 1.0

A table in a kitchen used for eating or working

55 1.0

A table where people eat dinner and other meals

45 1.0

A table for people to sit around and eat meals together

36 2.5

A heavy flat table with pockets used for playing pool

A table in a dining room where people eat meals

operating table
  • Specialized
19 2.5

A special table in an operating room where a patient lies during surgery

18 1.9

A small table next to a bed for a lamp, books, or a phone

Done secretly to hide payments and avoid the law

14 2.6

A small folding table used for playing card games

14 1.4

A game like tennis played on a table with small paddles and a light ball

Round Table
  • Literature
13 6.5

A large round table in stories about King Arthur where knights sit as equals

A large table where people sit for meetings in an office or boardroom

water table
  • Specialized
12 3.9

The level underground where the soil or rock are full of water

A table where people eat breakfast

periodic table
  • Specialized
12 3.5

A chart that shows all chemical elements by their atomic number and groups similar ones together

11 3.3

A discussion where people who are equal share ideas about a topic

A table for playing table tennis with a net in the middle

A large attractive book with many photos or pictures kept on a living room table for guests to browse

A list at the start of a book or document showing chapters and the pages they start on

table saw
  • Specialized
6 4.2

A tool for cutting wood using a round blade that sticks up through a table

A low table with a mirror for doing hair and makeup

6 9.1

A member of King Arthur's court who sits at the Round Table and is brave and fair

5 3.6

A table where people gamble with chips and cards

5 2.7

A small amount of leftover food from a meal that is given to animals or thrown away

Food that comes directly from local farms with few middle sellers

4 2.6

A game played on a table like a board game or card game

4 1.0

A small light that stands on a table for reading or making a room look nice

4 1.0

A white seasoning made from a common mineral to add flavor and keep food fresh

The way plates, knives, forks, and glasses are placed for a meal

table-turning
  • Informal
3 7.0

A sudden change that gives the other side the advantage

3 3.1

A set of matching dishes and utensils used at the dining table

2 2.2

Cloth items like napkins and tablecloths used to cover a dining table

2 2.3

A table for doing a particular job, like sewing or woodwork

2 3.0

A small low table placed in front of a sofa to hold drinks or magazines

actuarial table
  • Specialized
2 8.2

A table showing the chance people of different ages will die or get ill, used by insurers and pension funds

table talk
  • Informal
2 4.5

Talk that people have while they eat a meal

2 1.0

A small piece of cloth or paper used at meals to wipe your mouth and hands

2 2.4

A small piece of furniture for serving tea and snacks to guests

high table
  • Jargon
2 7.5

A table on a raised platform in a college hall where professors and guests eat

A large flat table with a smooth cloth surface for playing games like pool or snooker

2 3.9

A small table where children eat during family meals

drafting table
  • Specialized
2 4.2

A large table with an adjustable top that you use for drawing plans

A table with a flat top held up by two or more supports and often easy to move

1 6.6

A set of meals planned for athletes and served together to help them train

1 7.0

A round table where King Arthur and his knights sat as equals

1 1.0

A blunt tool used to cut and spread food at the table

A desk with a flat top used for writing and often with drawers

1 2.9

A wine people drink with a meal

A table with a surface that can be tilted for drawing

A large table that council members sit around during meetings

A narrow table that stands against a wall to hold decorations in a hallway or entryway

A flat rectangular table with a net used to play table tennis

table rapping
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A way people try to talk with dead people by tapping a table

A table in a church where bread and wine are placed for Communion

mortality table
  • Specialized
1 8.3

A table showing how likely people of each age are to die and the average years they have left

file allocation table
  • Specialized
1 6.3

A table on a computer disk that shows where information is stored and which areas cannot be used

1 1.1

A small flat pad that goes under plates to protect the table from heat and scratches

1 6.5

A machine you play by hitting buttons to move a metal ball

1 8.4

A table in a church where the priest places the bread and wine for Holy Communion

A table with one central leg instead of four legs

A flat rectangular table with a net for playing table tennis

1 8.8

A long narrow dining table used in monasteries or large halls

1 3.4

A large rectangular table with green cloth and six pockets for playing snooker

decision table
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A table that lists possible conditions and the action to take for each

statistical table
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A sheet that shows numbers in rows and columns to compare information

A meeting where people at the same level discuss a subject together

correlation table
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A table that shows how two things are related with numbers in the cells

A table with sides that fold down to save space and lift up to make it larger

pier table
  • Archaic
1 9.1

A low narrow table set against a wall under a mirror in a hallway

A table with hinged leaves that fold down and are held by legs that swing out

plane table
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A drawing board with a ruler on a tripod for mapping land features

Parsons table
  • Specialized
1 7.1

A simple rectangular table with a top and legs the same width and a clean modern look

How Long

to abandon
201 3.8
to shelve
14 5.0
to table
  • Formal
20 7.3
to delay
442 1.4

Surface Forms

table infinitive
tabled past
tabled past participle
tabling present participle
tables third person singular

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the verb table meaning 'to postpone' is to imagine putting a paper or idea on the table and leaving it there for later, so the image of placing it on the table explains delaying the discussion.