Meaning
- making a valuable contribution to a group, company, or individual.
- raising an issue for further discussion.
- to offer something that will be an advantage.
Example Sentences
- I wish to bring to the table the issue of the current tax regime and how it affects our businesses.
- Irene is the best candidate to hire; she brings excellent qualifications and undoubted experience to the table.
- When asked what you bring to the table in an interview, you should give a detailed list of your skills and competencies.
- Nobody in the company appreciates what Jane brings to the table.
- The pastor advised us to normalize asking partners what they bring to the table before falling in love.
- When you bring nothing to the table, the company will fire you.
- As a professional administrator, I bring to the table an excellent set of skills and rich experience.
Origin
The idiom "bring to the table" originated in gambling and refers to the initial sum of money that a gambler brings to a card game and which other players have a chance to win. Bringing "a lot" to the table means that your contribution may make everyone else better off. The phrase "to leave something on the table" describes leaving a card game while there is still money to be won. And in the 1980s, the idiom began to gain the popularity it holds today.
