take the floor

Idioms  

1. Rise to speak formally to an assembled group, as in After that long introduction, the treasurer took the floor. This idiom uses floor in the sense of “right to speak,” in turn derived from its meaning as the part of the legislature from which members address the group. [c. 1800]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

take the floor

When the Knicks take the floor Tuesday night for their first regular-season game since their championship parade, however, it will be much easier to imagine things going wrong.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

This month, Watkins and Davidson finally were able to take the floor together, just as Gottlieb had envisioned.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

Representatives of each parliamentary group will then take the floor and Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne will conclude the debate.

From New York Times ● Mar. 20, 2023

As the Wizards head into the All-Star break, Sheppard is right that Beal, Kuzma and Porzingis haven’t been able to consistently take the floor together.

From Washington Times ● Feb. 16, 2023

You have been severely criticized for allowing so inadequate a team to take the floor.

From Marjorie Dean College Freshman by Pauline Lester

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Related Words

• call
• discuss
• talk

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