From the floor?
 

Hello there!

I'd like to know if you can help me find out the meaning of the expression "From the floor". I heard it on the radio the other day and the context was something like this:

'He was translating everything immediately from the floor'

I haven't found the meaning in any dictionary...I think it's an idiom.

I'll be very pleased if you can help me.

Thank you in advance!

Re: From the floor?
 

I presume this was in a conference, meeting or something similar? It probably means that the person translating was in the audience (rather than eg in an interpreting booth or on stage with the speaker). We also talk about questions coming from the floor during a talk, again meaning from the audience. I suppose the idea behind it is that the speaker would normally be on a stage, ie raised, and the audience below, on the floor of the ausitorium.

Re: From the floor?
 

I agree with Sue on this one. :) "from the floor" is usually a quick way of saying the audience that is participatory in a discussion/debate or otherwise.

Re: From the floor?
 

That was great help. :) Thank you very much to you both!