put one’s cards on the table

put Verb

— When you put a thing someplace, you move a thing to a place. I always put my books on the table when I get home from school.

cards

— noun a game played with playing cards

on Preposition

— positioned at the upper surface of, touching from above The apple is on the table. — at the date of Tim was born on the 4th of July. — along, forwards (continuing an action) drive on, rock on — about, dealing with the subject of I have a book on history. There was a World Summit on the Information Society a few weeks ago. — touching; hanging from I have no money on me at the moment. I would like to eat the fruit on the trees. — because of, due to He was arrested on suspicion of bribery. I contacted Joanne on a hunch that she would know about it. The stock price increased on news of a new product.

on Adjective

— If something is on, it is active, functioning or operating. The television is on. The lights are on, so it is very bright.

the Determiner

— Used, instead of a, to reference something specific, already known to exist. Compare "I read a book." and "I read the book." — Used with a stress, to show that the word following is special. Are you the John Smith that I went to school with? — Used with an adjective that acts like a noun to mean all of the people concerned The poor are always with us. — Used with superlatives forms of adjectives and adverbs. You are the best.

table Noun

— A raised flat surface. He sat at the table to eat. — A list of information in rows and columns. He looked at the data table.

table Verb

— To propose in a meeting. We will table a new motion. — To end or postpone in a meeting. I vote to table discussion.