As you probably already know, there are many differences between British and American English. There are different spellings for the same word (color/colour), different words for the same thing (elevator/lift), and the same word for different things (pants, purse). But did you know that sometimes, the same word or phrase has the exactly opposite meaning, depending on where you’re from.
Have you heard the phrase “to table something” in a meeting? In American English, to table something means to decide not to discuss something at the point in time (or ever, perhaps). Yet in British English, to table something means to suggest to, or begin to, discuss something. In other words, here you have the same phrase. and even the same situation, but with two completely opposite meanings.
Have you heard the phrase “to table something” in a meeting? In American English, to table something means to decide not to discuss something at the point in time (or ever, perhaps). Yet in British English, to table something means to suggest to, or begin to, discuss something. In other words, here you have the same phrase. and even the same situation, but with two completely opposite meanings.
And thank you to Miriam Berg for this interesting post.
