The phrase “off the table” is an idiom that means “withdrawn or no longer available, as for consideration, acceptance, discussion, etc.” It is often used to indicate that something is not an option or a possibility anymore. For example, if someone says “marriage is off the table”, it means they are not interested in getting married or they have given up on the idea of marriage. The opposite of “off the table” is “on the table”, which means “under consideration, available for discussion, etc.” For example, if someone says “nothing is off the table”, it means they are open to any suggestions or solutions.
The origin of this idiom is not clear, but it may be related to the idea of a table as a place where negotiations or discussions take place. When something is on the table, it is part of the agenda or the subject of the conversation. When something is off the table, it is removed from the discussion or the negotiation. This idiom is often used in politics, business, or diplomacy, but it can also be used in casual or personal situations.
Here are some examples of how to use “off the table” in a sentence:
- I’m sorry, but that offer is off the table. You missed your chance to accept it.
- We need to make a decision soon. What options are still on the table?
- He said he would take the divorce off the table if I agreed to go to counseling with him.
- The president made it clear that military intervention is not off the table.
- She told me that dating is off the table for her for at least a year.
