American English/British English question
Sep 30, 2018, 4:23 am
#33
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And also, it's a bill, not a check, which term might not be understood outside tourist areas. A check is something you do to ensure that everything is ok. A cheque is a now obsolete method of paying bills.
Sep 30, 2018, 6:39 am
#34
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Oct 3, 2018, 4:18 am
#35
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One business and political term which has confused the partners in my international law firm for years is "table". Americans "table" a proposal if they wish to postpone discussion of it (i.e. put in on the tab le and forget about it); Brits "table" a proposal they want discussed now (i.e. [put on the table for discussion). Causes more confusion IME than any other set of meanings and apparently it caused endless confusion during combined military staff meetings during the war.
Oct 3, 2018, 7:22 am
#36
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One business and political term which has confused the partners in my international law firm for years is "table". Americans "table" a proposal if they wish to postpone discussion of it (i.e. put in on the tab le and forget about it); Brits "table" a proposal they want discussed now (i.e. [put on the table for discussion). Causes more confusion IME than any other set of meanings and apparently it caused endless confusion during combined military staff meetings during the war.
Oct 3, 2018, 7:58 am
#37
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Oct 3, 2018, 2:54 pm
#39
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Oct 3, 2018, 3:43 pm
#40
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One business and political term which has confused the partners in my international law firm for years is "table". Americans "table" a proposal if they wish to postpone discussion of it (i.e. put in on the tab le and forget about it); Brits "table" a proposal they want discussed now (i.e. [put on the table for discussion). Causes more confusion IME than any other set of meanings and apparently it caused endless confusion during combined military staff meetings during the war.
Oct 3, 2018, 6:47 pm
#41
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Not that I've heard. Table as a verb can actually mean either "delay until a future session" or "delay indefinitely", so it's one of those delightful contronyms whose contradictory meanings you have to sort out on the fly.
Oct 3, 2018, 9:22 pm
#44
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In addition to the distinction between a check/cheque versus a bill, and subway versus underground/tube, IME one of the biggest issues that a tourist could face is the difference between a bus (local) and a coach (long distance). I once instructed a taxi (black cab) to take me to the Victoria bus station with my luggage, when I meant the Victoria coach station (a couple blocks away). I almost missed my coach to Oxford as a result.
