Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > English Idioms and Sayings
"table" in plural (turn the tables)? "table" in plural (turn the tables)?
Tags Register Forum Rules FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Like Tree1Likes
  • 1 Post By Anglika

Closed Thread
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 17-Nov-2008, 01:33
thedaffodils's Avatar
Key Member
  
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,664
Home Country: China
Native Language: Chinese
Current Location: China
Member Type: Other
Default "table" in plural (turn the tables)?
Hi! I wonder why "table" is in plural about the idiom -turn the tables. I have searched some info. about it via Google, but it does not really help me out completely. Thanks!


Quote:
Reverse a situation and gain the upper hand, as in Steffi won their previous three matches but today Mary turned the tables and prevailed. This expression alludes to the former practice of reversing the table or board in games such as chess, thereby switching the opponents' positions. [c. 1600]
Last edited by thedaffodils; 18-Nov-2008 at 01:31. Reason: solecism
  #2  
Old 17-Nov-2008, 11:25
No Longer With Us
  
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 19,449
Member Type: Other
Default Re: "table" in plural (turn the tables)?
Turn the tables
  #3  
Old 17-Nov-2008, 12:14
thedaffodils's Avatar
Key Member
Threadstarter   		 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,664
Home Country: China
Native Language: Chinese
Current Location: China
Member Type: Other
Default Re: "table" in plural (turn the tables)?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Anglika View Post
Hi Anglika,

Thank you for your help. I've understood. Thus, I will not lose a table in my writing.
Last edited by thedaffodils; 18-Nov-2008 at 01:30. Reason: will lose-> will not lose
  #4  
Old 17-Nov-2008, 12:16
SUDHKAMP's Avatar
VIP Member
  
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 15,873
Home Country: India
Native Language: Kannada
Current Location: India
Member Type: Student or Learner
Default Re: "table" in plural (turn the tables)?
Backgammon is the key. Thanks Anglika.
Closed Thread

Bookmarks


« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Plural names qb1inva Ask a Teacher 2 09-Jun-2008 23:05
turn, turn, turn Nefertiti Ask a Teacher 2 18-Oct-2007 18:16
"plural or not", "er" & "est" or "more" & "the most" Ju Ask a Teacher 7 12-Jan-2007 00:42
verbs eyescold_07 Ask a Teacher 1 08-Aug-2005 06:32
What is the plural of "euro"? Guglielmo Scuotilancia Ask a Teacher 1 30-May-2005 10:03


All times are GMT. The time now is 10:14.

UsingEnglish.com ESL RSS Feeds - Contact Us - UsingEnglish.com ESL - Archive - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - ^ Back to Top


Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.