fall under the table

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fall under the table" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone or something physically dropping down onto the underside of a table. For example: "The baby pretended to be a monster and tried to scare her older brother, so he jumped and fell under the table."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

His pianist Vincenzo Scalera let more than a few notes fall under the table but otherwise served the singer well.

The New York Times

Taste everything you can, even if it makes your parents faint and fall under the table.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Under-the-table hush money.

The New York Times

Under-the-table payments are commonplace.

The Economist

In Russia, I've seen people falling under the table plenty of times — they drink differently over there — and if they took a few of these pills they were able to get up and walk around, and maybe have a couple more drinks.

The New Yorker

It was found that 90%% of samples in alluvium formation fall under excellent categories, 7%% fall in good class and the remaining 3%% fall under the permissible category (Table 5).

Applied Water Science

A contact is considered undesirable, if all four measured values fall under the thresholds given in the table on the left.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Pool balls that fall off the table.

WikiHow

Although all participants appeared to be apparently healthy, the majority of the participants (73%, 180/245) fall under the lower limit of BMI (Table  1), following the CDC categorization [ 16].

BMC Infectious Diseases

Like the Roomba, we can't trust it not to wander off under the table and fall over.

TechCrunch

If we were eggs, she would be sunny side up while I would be a hard boiled one that fell on the floor and rolled under the table.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a physical action, ensure the context clearly indicates what is falling and why. For example, "The child's toy car rolled off the edge and fell under the table."

Common error

Avoid using "fall under the table" metaphorically unless the context strongly implies hiding, disgrace, or something being deliberately concealed. Overuse can lead to confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall under the table" functions primarily as a prepositional phrase describing a physical action and location. Ludwig examples show it used literally to describe objects or people ending up beneath a table. The Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fall under the table" is a common prepositional phrase used to describe something physically ending up beneath a table. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for written English. While often literal, it can carry metaphorical weight suggesting something is hidden or concealed. The sources from Ludwig indicate its usage across various contexts, including news, scientific reports, and general narratives, making it a versatile and readily understandable phrase. When crafting your writing, be mindful of the context to ensure the phrase effectively conveys your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drop beneath the table

Focuses on the action of dropping, replacing "fall" with a synonym and maintaining the prepositional phrase structure.

hide under the table

Emphasizes the act of hiding, shifting the focus from the fall itself to the resulting state.

end up under the table

Highlights the final position, suggesting a process that leads to being under the table.

tumble under the table

Replaces "fall" with a more descriptive verb, suggesting a less controlled descent.

collapse under the table

Implies a sudden and uncontrolled fall, often due to weakness or external force.

be concealed beneath the table

Focuses on the state of being hidden, using more formal language.

be hidden by the table

Shifts the focus to the table as the agent of concealment.

descend under the table

Uses a more formal verb for falling, creating a slightly different tone.

go to ground under the table

Emphasizes seeking refuge or hiding, similar to an animal seeking shelter.

be relegated to under the table

Suggests being demoted or assigned to a lower position, extending the metaphor.

FAQs

How can I use "fall under the table" in a sentence?

You can use "fall under the table" to describe something or someone physically moving beneath a table, as in, "The napkin "fell under the table" during dinner."

What does it mean when something "falls under the table"?

Literally, it means something has dropped to the floor and ended up beneath a table. Figuratively, it can suggest something is hidden, concealed, or not being dealt with openly.

Is it ever correct to say "fell under the table"?

Yes, "fell under the table" is the past tense of "fall under the table" and is correct when describing a past event. For example, "He "fell under the table" after tripping."

What are some related phrases to "fall under the table"?

Related phrases include "hide under the table", "drop beneath the table", or "end up under the table", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.