tabling a discussion

USAGE SUMMARY

"tabling a discussion" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to talk about suggesting a discussion topic or bringing up an issue for debate. For example, "At the meeting, the manager tabled a discussion about the proposal for the new project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Another thing he suggests, intentionally or not, is tabling a discussion of sexual misconduct in favor of issues he's vocally pursued in the past, like "legalizing marijuana and opening the state hospital network to combat the opioid crisis".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I was able to table a discussion at the vice-chancellor's executive group and over a number of meetings I secured a £10 per week reduction in university-owned halls.

The Guardian

He co-founded the Civil War Round Table, a discussion group of history lovers that now has more than 300 chapters around the world.

The New York Times

Alexandra Hrycak (Reed College) concluded the round-table with a discussion of Ukraine.

University of Chicago

"I don't think they have really come to the table for a discussion on this".

Huffington Post

Each section consists of a table and a discussion of the results.

BMC Palliative Care

13321_2017_244_MOESM1_ESM.docx Additional file 1. Proof of Lemma 1 to Theorem 6, Tables S1 S4, and a discussion for Table S4.

Journal of Cheminformatics

It's a morning ritual – at the breakfast table there is a discussion about football".

The Guardian

The goal is put all the data on the table and have a discussion.

Forbes

On Thursday, the Senate tabled discussion on a bill that would make teachers wait 10 years to receive tenure, the longest such time in the nation.

Huffington Post

That does set the table for at least a discussion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tabling a discussion" when you want to suggest that a particular topic be delayed or postponed for consideration at a later time, often to prioritize other matters.

Common error

Avoid using "tabling a discussion" when you actually mean to introduce or raise a topic for discussion. "Tabling" implies postponement, not initiation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tabling a discussion" functions as a verb phrase acting as a suggestion or action within a formal or semi-formal setting. It indicates a proposal to postpone or delay a discussion, as supported by Ludwig AI indicating the phrase is acceptable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tabling a discussion" means to postpone or delay a discussion. While grammatically correct, its usage is rare. It's important to use this phrase when the intent is to postpone, not initiate, a discussion. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability, and authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian provide examples of its use in news, academic, and science contexts. Be mindful not to confuse it with phrases like "introducing a discussion", which has the opposite meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponing a discussion

Focuses specifically on delaying the discussion to a later time.

deferring a discussion

Highlights the act of putting off the discussion, often implying it will be addressed later.

delaying a discussion

Emphasizes the act of slowing down or holding back a discussion.

suspending a discussion

Implies temporarily stopping a discussion that is already underway.

shelving a discussion

Implies putting the discussion aside, potentially indefinitely.

putting a discussion on hold

Indicates a temporary pause in the discussion.

setting aside a discussion

Indicates that the discussion is being intentionally left for another time or purpose.

introducing a topic for discussion

Shifts the focus to the act of initiating a discussion rather than delaying it.

raising a topic for discussion

Similar to introducing, but emphasizes bringing the topic to attention.

presenting a topic for discussion

Highlights the formal presentation of a topic to be discussed.

FAQs

What does "tabling a discussion" mean?

The phrase "tabling a discussion" means to postpone or delay a discussion, often to a later time or meeting. It suggests putting the topic aside temporarily.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "tabling a discussion"?

It's appropriate to use "tabling a discussion" when you want to suggest postponing a topic because there isn't enough time, relevant information, or a clear consensus to address it immediately. You could use alternatives such as "postponing a discussion" or "deferring a discussion".

Are there any formal alternatives to "tabling a discussion"?

Yes, formal alternatives include "deferring consideration", "postponing the matter", or "suspending debate". These options are suitable for formal meetings and written communication.

How is "tabling a discussion" different from "introducing a discussion"?

"Tabling a discussion" means to delay or postpone it, while "introducing a discussion" means to initiate or bring up a new topic. They are opposite actions in a meeting context; instead of using "tabling a discussion" you can try "introducing a topic for discussion".