• GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca
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    30 days ago

    There are a number of words in English that have different meanings depending on where you’re from, such as flat or boot, but the political definition of table is its own antonym depending on the region. In Canada and the UK to table a bill or subject means to pay attention or deal with it, while in America it means to set it aside. There is an apocryphal story about the leaders of Canada and America meeting with him during WWII and they wish to discuss some subject. The Canadian says to table the discussion, the American gets upset and says it’s an important topic and needs to be discussed, and Churchill says we are nations divided by a common language.

    I honestly thought it would be more prevalent on the internet, but I couldn’t find a reference to it.