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]

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

take the floor

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

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

But a swirling cloud of suspicion surrounds Santos, just as he is poised to take the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, to swear to serve Constitution and country.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 1, 2023

In a gaffe, they happened to take the floor at the moment the Marine Band was playing “The Lady Is a Tramp,” which caused plenty of awkward chagrin.

From New York Times ● Sep. 8, 2022

A jazz-band will strike up, coughing out the nauseated, retching intervals so stimulating to our feet, and two by two, in driblets, streamlets, and lastly in a volume, the guests will take the floor.

From The Dust Flower by Hibberd V. B. (Hibberd Van Buren) Kline

Related Words

• call
• discuss
• talk