What it actually means
I'd like this to go away. We will not return to it unless I'm forced.
Surface meaning: To defer a topic to a later meeting or decision point.
If someone just said “Table This” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
Chair: Let's table the budget discussion.
(Budget discussion: indefinite tabling.)
How to respond
Add a tracked action: 'Tabled until next month's review.' Anything tabled without a date is buried.
Origin
Parliamentary procedure. In US English 'to table' means defer; in UK English, the opposite. The ambiguity is on-brand.
FAQ
What does "Table This" actually mean?
I'd like this to go away. We will not return to it unless I'm forced.
Where did the phrase "Table This" come from?
Parliamentary procedure. In US English 'to table' means defer; in UK English, the opposite. The ambiguity is on-brand.
How should I respond when someone says "Table This"?
Add a tracked action: 'Tabled until next month's review.' Anything tabled without a date is buried.
Related corporate vocabulary
This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.
Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.
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