fall down the table

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fall down the table" is not correct in standard English usage.
It may be intended to describe something that has fallen off or is no longer on the table, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The book fell down the table and landed on the floor."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Things aren't quite level on the standings table (Montreal still has two games in hand), but whether or not the Red Bulls fall down the table lies more in their own hands than the quirks of MLS scheduling.

The Guardian - Sport

The result takes the Tangerines up to 15th in the Championship and mathematically safe from relegation after a run of only three wins in 13 games had seen them fall down the table.

BBC

"It was a false dawn as the side lost its confidence with injuries piling up, and a fall down the table was only steadied in the second half of the season with four loan signings from higher-placed clubs.

BBC

Defender Mark Roberts took caretaker charge of Stevenage, who are likely to name a new manager to replace Gary Smith this week in an attempt to halt their alarming fall down the table to 15th.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Nor was Nigeria, while New Zealand and the Netherlands fell down the table.

BBC

In 2005 06 Villa slowly fell down the table and finished in 16th place.

Wikipedia

Under Welsh's stewardship the club gradually fell down the table, before they were relegated to the Second Division in the 1953 54 season, after finishing in 22nd position.

Wikipedia

He pushed me so hard that I fell down on the table and injured my head.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

At the domestic level, Napoli made a very impressive start, proposing as one of the main candidates for a Champions League spot; results and performances, however, quickly declined in mid-season, causing Napoli to fall down to 11th place in the league table, which lead to the dismissal of manager Edy Reja in March 2009, with former Italy manager Roberto Donadoni being appointed as his replacement.

Wikipedia

Neligan suggests Investec's High 5 account: "This promises to pay the average of the top five interest rates, so, while you will never have the highest rate, you will not buy into the top rate only to see it fall down the best buy tables," he explains.

The Guardian - Money

It was enough to trigger the guy's shock vest, and he fell down between the coffee table and couch, lifeless.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an object's movement, consider using "fall off the table" instead of "fall down the table" for improved clarity and naturalness.

Common error

Avoid using "down" redundantly when "off" or another preposition provides a more precise description of movement from a surface.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall down the table" functions as a verb phrase describing movement or a decline, though its usage is considered non-standard. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase isn't correct in standard English usage. The phrase is most commonly found in sport contexts, especially to explain the decline of a sports team during a competition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "fall down the table" is understandable, it's generally considered non-standard English. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it's often better to use alternative phrases such as "fall off the table" for physical descents, or more precise terms like "decline in rankings" for metaphorical declines. The phrase appears most frequently in news and general contexts, but due to its awkward phrasing, it's advisable to opt for clearer and more conventional expressions, specially in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall off the table

Replaces "down" with "off", indicating a movement away from the table's surface.

drop from the table

Uses "drop" instead of "fall", emphasizing a sudden downward movement.

tumble off the table

Uses "tumble" suggesting a less controlled fall.

collapse onto the table

Describes a sudden loss of structure or stability resulting in falling onto the table, rather than just 'down'.

slide off the table

Suggests a gradual descent due to a lack of friction or incline.

fall beneath the table

Highlights the final position after falling, specifically being under the table.

plummet from the table

Emphasizes a fast and uncontrolled fall.

lose one's position in the standings

Uses "lose" indicating a gradual decline in rankings or status.

decline in the rankings

Focuses on the action of declining rather than a physical fall.

be relegated

Highlights the state of relegation to describe the fact of falling down in rankings.

FAQs

What's a more natural way to say something fell from a table?

Instead of saying something "fell down the table", it's clearer to say it "fell off the table" or "dropped from the table".

Is "fall down the table" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "fall down the table" isn't considered standard English. "Fall off the table" is more grammatically sound.

Can "fall down the table" refer to a metaphorical fall in status?

While "fall down" can be used metaphorically (e.g., "fall down the rankings"), it's best to use more precise language when discussing status changes, like "decline in rankings" or "lose position in the standings".

What's the difference between "fall down the table" and "fall off the table"?

"Fall off the table" indicates something detaching from the table surface due to gravity. "Fall down the table" is less clear but might imply moving along the table's surface before falling, though it's rarely used.