take something off the table

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'take something off the table' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something is no longer being considered as a possible solution or proposal. For example: "Given the current financial situation, we've decided to take the salary increase off the table."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

People are just looking to take something off the table".

The New York Times

"It's time to take something off the table," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Take something off the heat if you're not sure, or add a splash of water to cool something down.

Independent

I wouldn't take it off the table.

Huffington Post

Why would I take it off the table?," Trump said.

Vice

"But if it does down the road some time, that's something we would never take off the table if we could benefit our players at the end of the day.

Huffington Post

Could that threat have been taken off the table?

The Guardian - Opinion

They get too short and cover positions, especially on the long put side, where premiums get too rich to resist taking at least something off the table.

Forbes

The question is: how much did the founders take off the table with this round?

TechCrunch

"There is nothing I would take off the table.

Huffington Post

Last year, the offer was taken off the table.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase when you want to clearly communicate that a particular option or idea is no longer being considered as a solution.

Common error

Avoid using "take something off the table" when you intend to indicate a temporary pause or reconsideration. This phrase implies a more permanent removal of an option.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take something off the table" functions as an idiomatic expression. It means to remove a particular option or proposal from consideration. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiom "take something off the table" is a common and correct expression used to indicate the removal of an option from consideration. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's primarily used in news, business, and political contexts to convey that a particular idea or proposal is no longer viable. Alternatives include phrases like "remove from consideration" or "rule out". When using this idiom, ensure it aligns with a permanent removal rather than a temporary pause.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remove from consideration

This alternative focuses on the act of removing something from being considered.

eliminate as a possibility

This phrase emphasizes the complete removal of something as a potential option.

rule out

A shorter, more direct way of saying something is no longer an option.

dismiss from discussion

Focuses on removing a topic from a conversation or debate.

set aside

This suggests temporarily putting something aside, but it can also imply permanent removal.

exclude from the options

Directly states that something is not included among the available choices.

drop from the agenda

This specifically refers to removing an item from a planned list of topics or actions.

cease considering

Emphasizes the action of stopping the consideration of something.

no longer entertain

Suggests that an idea or proposal is no longer being seriously considered.

shelve the idea

Implies putting an idea on hold, often indefinitely.

FAQs

How to use "take something off the table" in a sentence?

You can use "take something off the table" to indicate that an option is no longer being considered. For example: "Due to budget constraints, we had to "take something off the table"".

What can I say instead of "take something off the table"?

You can use alternatives like "remove from consideration", "rule out", or "eliminate as a possibility" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "take something off the table"?

It's appropriate when you want to communicate that a specific idea, proposal, or option is no longer being considered as a viable solution or course of action.

Is "take something off the table" a formal or informal expression?

The expression "take something off the table" is generally considered to be neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in business and political discussions.