This discussion began a few months ago when the possibility of Greece defaulting was first laid on the table.

FORBES: Greece's Inevitable Default Won't Trigger CDS, So What's The Point Of Protection?

That is now the charge that has been laid on the table: that the essential character of the bank has changed.

BBC: Eurozone crisis: From deutschmark to lira?

Then they laid on the table an oil-swap deal with Iran that will allow them to ship Kazak oil across the Caspian to Iran and a refinery near Tehran.

CNN: THE BIG OIL SHOCK

Sitting in an office at Northwestern Mutual with CIOs from leading insurance groups and Manpower and sponsoring vendors, I was was surprised to see that at least half the participants laid iPads on the table.

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We heard positions from President Obama, from the United States, and positions from other countries, and they were all laid out on the table.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama and President Santos Hold a Press Conference | The White House

But when they ordered pieces to be laid out on the table for destruction, they were given copies, and the originals were hidden away.

BBC: Fresh start for Kabul museum

What's the wider picture emerging, now that Part One is published and both governments have laid their cards on the table ready for Part Two?

BBC: Commission keeps calm and carries on

Reflecting a set of books and magazines laid out on the coffee table at home, the core layout of each customer's "Daily Shelf" lets them easily find their latest read or a new issue of their favorite magazine or newspaper.

ENGADGET: Nook app comes to Windows 8 with clean Paper-like design

She opened it on the table and laid her finger on the margin.

NEWYORKER: The Repatriates

"He laid out contracts for five and seven years on the table, " Scolari was reported as telling The Times.

BBC: SPORT | Football | Internationals | Scolari considers England options