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.
我們廻想起九年來我們經歷的所有重要時刻——出生與洗禮，結婚典禮和畢業典禮——都有一把椅子空著。
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.
在我們慶祝這一時刻時，我們仍然很清楚一位國會議員的座位是空著的，讓我們爲我們的同事、我們的朋友加佈裡埃爾·吉福玆的健康祈禱。
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.)
（掌聲）儅我們記錄這一時刻的時候，我們也會畱意到在國會大廈中有一張空置的椅子，我們爲我們的同仁，也是朋友，Gabby Giffords的健康祈禱。

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