empty chair

基本解释

We think about the milestones that have passed over the course of nine years – births and christenings, weddings and graduations – all with an empty chair.
我们回想起九年来我们经历的所有重要时刻——出生与洗礼，结婚典礼和毕业典礼——都有一把椅子空着。
And as we mark this occasion, we are also mindful of the empty chair in this Chamber, and pray for the health of our colleague – and our friend – Gabby Giffords.
在我们庆祝这一时刻时，我们仍然很清楚一位国会议员的座位是空着的，让我们为我们的同事、我们的朋友加布里埃尔·吉福兹的健康祈祷。
And as we mark this occasion, we’re also mindful of the empty chair in this chamber, and we pray for the health of our colleague -- and our friend -– Gabby Giffords. (Applause.)
（掌声）当我们记录这一时刻的时候，我们也会留意到在国会大厦中有一张空置的椅子，我们为我们的同仁，也是朋友，Gabby Giffords的健康祈祷。

Thursday hour, get hijacked by a Hollywood star lecturing ramblingly at an empty chair.
FORBES: Mitt Romney's One-Two Leadership Punch--Against Himself
If he fails to turn up, he risks being represented by an empty chair.
ECONOMIST: The prime minister is dragging his feet
And we will all be smiling because of the man who used to sit in the empty chair at the table.
FORBES: The Man Who Sat At The Head Of The Thanksgiving Table