fell off the table

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fell off the table" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been disregarded, forgotten, or no longer considered, often in a metaphorical sense. Example: "The project proposal fell off the table after the budget cuts were announced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Tax revenues fell off the table.

The New York Times

"After a fairly benign spring, we just fell off the table," he said.

The New York Times

The fire truck fell off the table for the fifth year in a row.

The New York Times

Then at the end of the '80s, when the market fell off the table, I fell off with it.

The New York Times

Paschke said a number of smaller firms outside of New York that have had limited transaction activity since the IPO market fell off the table in the second half of 2008.

Forbes

"I almost fell off the table, literally.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

And here are two others that have fallen off the table: climate change.

The New York Times

American officials cautioned, however, that it was too soon to say much had definitely fallen off the table.

The New York Times

His curveball was really hard, his slider was good, his split was falling off the table, fastball's dancing everywhere — that's him".

The New York Times - Sports

His trademark sinker was on tonight -- Mets right fielder Bell said it was "falling off the table" -- and all of Hampton's final 21 outs came from grounders or strike outs.

The New York Times - Sports

By contrast, Mr. Ferrer, the Bronx borough president, did not outline a specific proposal for rebuilding; he argued that even as the city deals with reconstruction and security, it should not allow issues like education, health and housing to "fall off the table".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fell off the table" to describe situations where something was once important or considered but is no longer relevant or has been forgotten. For example, "Climate change initiatives fell off the table during the economic crisis."

Common error

Avoid using "fell off the table" when you literally mean something physically fell from a table. This phrase is best used metaphorically to describe a decline in importance or a removal from consideration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fell off the table" primarily functions as an idiomatic expression. It's used to convey that something has lost importance, is no longer under consideration, or has been forgotten. Ludwig examples show its usage across diverse contexts, such as politics and economics.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "fell off the table" is a common idiom used to describe something that has lost importance or is no longer under consideration. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. This phrase appears frequently in news and media, and its usage is generally neutral. To avoid confusion, it's best used metaphorically rather than literally. Related phrases include "lost relevance" and "was disregarded". Remember, this idiom is an effective way to communicate that a topic has shifted from being important to being forgotten.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became unimportant

Directly states a reduction in importance.

was disregarded

Highlights that something was ignored or not taken into account.

was overlooked

Similar to disregarded, but can imply accidental neglect.

lost relevance

Implies a decrease in importance or significance.

slipped from attention

Indicates something is no longer being noticed or considered.

dropped out of sight

Indicates something has disappeared from view or consideration.

faded into oblivion

Suggests something has been completely forgotten or lost.

declined sharply

Emphasizes a rapid decrease or drop in value or quantity.

plummeted drastically

Similar to declined sharply, but with a more forceful implication of a severe fall.

vanished completely

Suggests the total disappearance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "fell off the table" in a sentence?

You can use "fell off the table" to describe something that has been disregarded, forgotten, or no longer considered. For instance: "The issue of tax reform fell off the table after the election results."

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

When something "falls off the table", it means it has been removed from consideration, become less important, or been forgotten. It's often used metaphorically.

What can I say instead of "fell off the table"?

You can use alternatives like "lost relevance", "was disregarded", or "became unimportant" depending on the context.

Is "fell off the table" an idiom?

Yes, "fell off the table" is an idiom that means something is no longer being considered or has been forgotten. It's not meant to be taken literally.