I forgot it IN the table... dance!
The other day I was with some friends, when somebody said "I forgot (something) in the table. My friend wanted to say he had forgotten that ON his table, but then another friend added "you forgot it in the table... dance!".

This was hilarious because in Mexico a strip club is called a table dance. But would it be funny to a native speaker? I mean, we could say "I forgot it in the table dance club" or something...My friend doesn't speak english very well, so the sentence in the table was not grammatically correct. He used the preposition "in" instead of "on", but that was where the joke came from.

So according to your replies guys, "I forgot it in the table dance club" is correct, right?

Question

I forgot it IN the table... dance!
The other day I was with some friends, when somebody said "I forgot (something) in the table. My friend wanted to say he had forgotten that ON his table, but then another friend added "you forgot it in the table... dance!".

This was hilarious because in Mexico a strip club is called a table dance. But would it be funny to a native speaker? I mean, we could say "I forgot it in the table dance club" or something...My friend doesn't speak english very well, so the sentence in the table was not grammatically correct. He used the preposition "in" instead of "on", but that was where the joke came from.

So according to your replies guys, "I forgot it in the table dance club" is correct, right?

Answer

Ahhh I see what you mean. :D  But no, the joke doesn't translate as easily to English.

I'd understand  "in the table" as something embedded in the table.

"You forgot it in the table dance" I'd understand as you forgot it as a result of dancing on the table (in = during, in this context).

But I will remember "table dance" in future! Thanks!

Answer

Hello Richardus,

Since you were friends talking informally and you were just in this club before,so the context is clear for you all  and the other friend will implicitly understand  from " I forgot it in the table" ,that the table dance club is meant.
This sentence is then an incomplete one, a shorter way to say " I forgot it in the table dance club."
This is acceptable in an informal way,yet  not from a grammatical point of view.

Answer

So precisely spoken he forgot in the 'Table' on the table ;).
In informal speech he would be saying:
" I forgot it in the dance club."
or
" I forgot it in the 'Table'."

Answers · 3

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