level as a tabletop

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "level as a tabletop" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is completely flat or even, often in a literal sense regarding surfaces or figuratively in terms of stability or consistency. Example: "The carpenter ensured that the surface was level as a tabletop before installing the new countertop."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

It rocked gently until the poking stopped, steadied itself and marched firmly across the level surface, a tabletop propped up on cinderblocks.

The New York Times - Tech

It originated in Cincinnati as a tabletop version of a French game, bagatelle.

The New York Times - Tech

The war planning, known as a "tabletop exercise," was held over several days in Hawaii.

The New York Times

But on the morning of the race, the water was as smooth as a tabletop.

The New York Times

Down below, sailboats, schooners and speedboats floated by on water as flat as a tabletop.

The New York Times - Sports

We hiked down a path into Canyon de Chelly, past a petrified sand dune smooth as a tabletop.

The New York Times - Sports

It meant the normally fragile peat bogs, shallow ponds and lichen-tufted ridges were frozen as solid as a tabletop.

The New York Times - Science

Is your new iPad as hot as a tabletop grill?

TechCrunch

MotBM is a full-color dungeon game book designed to be played as a tabletop RPG.

Vice

The approach can be subtle, oblique and wry, as in a tabletop installation of sculptures in the first gallery.

The New York Times - Arts

He was as helpless as a pinball coursing in a tabletop machine.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "level as a tabletop" to vividly describe exceptionally flat surfaces in both literal and figurative contexts. For instance, a lake's surface can be described as "level as a tabletop" on a calm day, or a company's performance can be described as such when it's consistently stable.

Common error

Avoid using "level as a tabletop" when describing something that requires texture or slight unevenness. The phrase emphasizes perfect flatness and should not be applied where some degree of variation is desirable or expected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "level as a tabletop" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to describe its flatness or evenness. Ludwig AI suggests that this phrase is used to emphasize a very smooth, flat, and horizontal surface.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "level as a tabletop" vividly describes something that is exceptionally flat or even. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and general usability. While not highly frequent, it is suitable for both literal and figurative descriptions, lending a strong image of flatness. Alternatives like "flat as a pancake" or "smooth as glass" can be used for variety. The phrase is appropriate for neutral contexts, as found in news and general media. It serves to emphasize the degree of flatness, effectively communicating the evenness of a surface or the stability of a situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flat as a pancake

Emphasizes flatness using a common culinary comparison.

smooth as glass

Highlights the smoothness and evenness of a surface.

even as a board

Compares the surface to a uniformly flat board.

perfectly horizontal

Focuses on the orientation of the surface being completely level.

uniformly flat

Highlights the consistent flatness across the entire surface.

as smooth as silk

Emphasizes the sleekness and lack of irregularities on the surface.

without undulation

Indicates the absence of waves or unevenness.

dead level

Uses a nautical term to describe perfect horizontality.

true to plane

Highlights adherence to a single, flat plane.

on an even keel

Shifts the meaning to stability and equilibrium rather than just flatness.

FAQs

How can I use "level as a tabletop" in a sentence?

You can use "level as a tabletop" to describe something perfectly flat and even. For example, "The ice rink was "level as a tabletop", making it perfect for skating."

What can I say instead of "level as a tabletop"?

Alternatives include "flat as a pancake", "smooth as glass", or "perfectly horizontal" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "as level as a tabletop"?

Yes, "as level as a tabletop" is grammatically sound and understandable. The phrase is more common when describing the degree to which something is level.

When is it appropriate to use "level as a tabletop"?

It is appropriate when you want to emphasize the extreme flatness or evenness of something, either literally (a surface) or figuratively (a situation that is very stable and consistent).