maning of 'top table' as in: member of the 'top table' on climate change

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Anonymous

#450309 Thu, 06 Dec 07 12:07 PM

Does anybody know any equivalent in Italian or Spanish or French? I am supposed to translate this jargon term and I have no idea but paraphrasing it. Thanks in advance.

Anonymous

Alan.es

#450388 Thu, 06 Dec 07 04:19 PM

The reference is most common with regard to a wedding or a company dinner. The bride/bridegroom and their parents will be on the top table. In a company dinner the chairman and senior directors will be on the top table - the most important people in that company.

In Spanish I would suggest - en la primera liga, ó de la primera categoria

Alan.es

Joined on Sun, Apr 16 2006

Full Member (303)

Regards, Weddings

Grammar Geek

#450391 Thu, 06 Dec 07 04:46 PM

Can you give more completel context?

It's not as simple as the text listing two tables, is it? The top table listing some countries and the lower table listing others?

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,591)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Clive

#450512 Fri, 07 Dec 07 12:19 AM

Hi,

In the context of weddings and dinners, I've always said and heard 'the head table'.

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (21,191)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Weddings

Alan.es

#450937 Sat, 08 Dec 07 08:39 AM

I've never heard it said as 'head table'. It's always been the 'top table' at the many weddings and dinners I've attended in the UK.

Another example of differences between BrE and AmE, maybe?

Alan.es

Weddings

Marius Hancu

#450954 Sat, 08 Dec 07 10:46 AM

Alan.es wrote:
I've never heard it said as 'head table'. It's always been the 'top table' at the many weddings and dinners I've attended in the UK.

Generally, you're right, but see this example, which seems BrE:

----
CBF 9646

She was seated next to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on the
head table while Prince Charles was relegated to a side table.

CBF Today. London: News Group Newspapers Ltd, 1992
---------

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Weddings

Anonymous

#451049 Sat, 08 Dec 07 05:00 PM

Well, I wouldn't want to be held responsible for what's put in the English newspapers even if it was 1992 and can only repeat that, to the best of my knowledge, "top table" is used in the way I've suggested rather than "head table".

I accept that "head table" is used in America.

Referring back to the expression in Spanish, apparently the equivalent in Spanish is 'mesa presidencíal' with the meaning of the table where the dignitaries sit. However this would not be used in the context asked for above, it would be 'en la primera liga' or 'de la primera categoria'.

Alan.es

Anonymous

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