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

Rather, Merkley would eliminate what’s come to be called “the silent filibuster” and force lawmakers to actually take the floor and publicly press their case until they prevail, give up or physically give out.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

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

While he was rehabbing, he wondered whether he would ever take the floor with Durant and Irving in Brooklyn.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 26, 2022

Their athletic director will then take the floor before BYU volleyball’s next home game, with a microphone in his right hand and small piece of blue paper in his left.

From Washington Post • Aug. 29, 2022

Mr. GROW:—He had no right to take the floor from me for any such purpose.

From A Report of the Debates and Proceedings in the Secret Sessions of the Conference Convention For Proposing Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, Held at Washington, D.C., in February, A.D. 1861 by Chittenden, L. E. (Lucius Eugene)

Related Words

• call
• discuss
• talk