たたき台だい

noun

chopping block

Literal meaning: a sturdy surface for chopping or pounding food, such as meat or fish. Less common in modern daily life; the figurative sense is far more frequent.

See also: 叩く (たたく)

• 料りょう理り人にんはたたき台だいの上うえで肉にくをたたいた。

  The cook pounded the meat on the chopping block.

noun

draft proposal; tentative plan; springboard for discussion

Figurative business term: a rough draft or initial plan put forward to be criticized, refined, or built upon. Often used in meetings and project planning.

• 会かい議ぎで使つかうたたき台だいを作つくってください。

  Please prepare a draft proposal for the meeting.

• この企き画かく書しょはまだたたき台だいなので、遠えん慮りょなく意い見けんをください。

  This project plan is still a rough draft, so please give your honest feedback.