American English/British English question
#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.
#34
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#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.
#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.
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#39
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#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.
#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.
#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.