English

Prepositional phrase

on the table

1. (politics) Up for formal discussion; tabled.

   The proposed new bill will soon be on the table in Parliament.

2. (idiomatic, by extension) Open or available for further attention or action.
   • 1994 June 30, Kenneth N. Gilpin, "Dart Family Files Lawsuit To Nudge Brazilian Bank," New York Times (retrieved 6 April 2014):

     "We made an offer about two weeks ago, which is still on the table," he said. "We have not withdrawn it, and hope they will consider it."

   • 2015 April 3, Jonathan Broder and Matthew Cooper, "Iran Was the Easy Part: Obama Takes His Nuke Deal to Congress," Newsweek (retrieved 6 April 2014):

     Israeli intelligence minister Yuval Steinitz said all options were open for Israel. "If we have no choice, we have no choice...the military option is on the table," he said.

Antonyms

• off the table