bring something to the table
English Meaning & Definitions
To provide something useful, such as a skill, experience, or resource, that adds value to a group, project, or negotiation.
- “She brings years of marketing experience to the table, which will be invaluable for our new campaign.”
- “We need to evaluate what each candidate brings to the table before making a final hiring decision.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “bring something to the table”.
The idiom originated in the mid-20th century, likely evolving from the imagery of a potluck dinner or a negotiation setting where participants contribute resources, food, or ideas to a shared space. By the 1970s and 80s, it became firmly established in business and political jargon to describe the unique skills, assets, or value an individual contributes to a team or project.
Imagine sitting at a boardroom table and placing a physical gift or tool in the center; that is what you are 'bringing' to the group.
Frequently Asked Questions About “bring something to the table”
1. What is the meaning of “bring something to the table” in English?
In English, bring something to the table (idiom) is defined as: “To provide something useful, such as a skill, experience, or resource, that adds value to a group, project, or negotiation.”.
2. How do you use “bring something to the table” in a sentence?
“She brings years of marketing experience to the table, which will be invaluable for our new campaign.”
3. What are English synonyms of “bring something to the table”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “bring something to the table”?
The idiom originated in the mid-20th century, likely evolving from the imagery of a potluck dinner or a negotiation setting where participants contribute resources, food, or ideas to a shared space. By the 1970s and 80s, it became firmly established in business and political jargon to describe the unique skills, assets, or value an individual contributes to a team or project.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.