Check, please
Bill request
Wörtlich: Verify/Bill, if you please
Use `Check, please` to politely ask for the bill in any casual American dining setting.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to ask for the total cost at a restaurant.
- Very common in the USA and Canada.
- Short, polite, and direct way to end a meal.
Bedeutung
This is the standard way to tell a waiter you are finished eating and want to pay for your meal.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Finishing lunch at a diner
That was a great burger. Check, please!
That was a great burger. Bill request!
A formal business lunch
We are finished here, so check, please.
We are finished here, so bill request.
Texting a friend who is paying
Tell the waiter 'check please', I need to go!
Tell the waiter 'bill request', I need to go!
Kultureller Hintergrund
The term 'check' comes from the idea of 'checking' the accuracy of the list of items consumed. In American culture, it is the most common way to request payment, while 'bill' is preferred in almost every other English-speaking country. It has also become a comedic trope used to signal a desire to leave an awkward situation immediately.
The Air-Write Gesture
If the restaurant is loud, you can make a 'writing' motion with your hand in the air while saying the phrase. Servers understand this globally!
Check vs. Bill
In the US, 'check' is for restaurants and 'bill' is for utilities (electricity/water). In the UK, 'bill' is used for both!
In 15 Sekunden
- Used to ask for the total cost at a restaurant.
- Very common in the USA and Canada.
- Short, polite, and direct way to end a meal.
What It Means
Check, please is your go-to signal for the end of a meal. It tells the staff you are ready to settle the bill. It is short, direct, and very effective. Think of it as the 'exit button' for your restaurant experience.
How To Use It
You usually say this while making eye contact with your server. You can raise your hand slightly to get their attention. Some people even mimic writing in the air with their hand. Don't shout it across the room though! A calm, clear voice is perfect. It is a complete sentence on its own. You don't need fancy grammar here.
When To Use It
Use it at cafes, diners, or casual restaurants. It works great when you are in a hurry. It is also perfect for when the server asks, "Can I get you anything else?" If you are full, just smile and say, Check, please. It is the universal signal for "I am done and ready to go home."
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using this at a very fancy, high-end Michelin star restaurant. In those places, the server usually brings the bill without you asking. Don't use it at a fast-food counter where you pay first. Also, never snap your fingers while saying it. That is considered very rude in English-speaking cultures. Nobody likes a finger-snapper!
Cultural Background
In the US and Canada, we call the paper with the total price a check. In the UK or Australia, they usually call it a bill. This phrase became a pop-culture staple in movies and sitcoms. It is often used as a joke when a date is going badly. If your date starts talking to their imaginary friend, you might whisper Check, please to escape!
Common Variations
You might hear Can I get the check? or Could we have the bill? In the UK, you will definitely hear The bill, please. If you want to be extra polite, try Whenever you have a moment, could we get the check? This shows you aren't in a massive rush.
Nutzungshinweise
This phrase is neutral and works in 90% of dining situations in North America. Just remember to use a friendly tone to avoid sounding demanding.
The Air-Write Gesture
If the restaurant is loud, you can make a 'writing' motion with your hand in the air while saying the phrase. Servers understand this globally!
Check vs. Bill
In the US, 'check' is for restaurants and 'bill' is for utilities (electricity/water). In the UK, 'bill' is used for both!
Don't be Pushy
Wait for a natural break in the server's movement. Shouting 'Check, please' while they are carrying a heavy tray is bad etiquette.
Beispiele
6That was a great burger. Check, please!
That was a great burger. Bill request!
A friendly way to end a casual meal.
We are finished here, so check, please.
We are finished here, so bill request.
Direct but professional when time is limited.
Tell the waiter 'check please', I need to go!
Tell the waiter 'bill request', I need to go!
Using the phrase as a noun in a text.
Wait, you still live with your ex? Check, please!
Wait, you still live with your ex? I need to leave!
Used humorously to show a desire to escape.
I think the kids are getting tired. Check, please?
I think the kids are getting tired. Bill request?
Used to signal a transition to leaving.
This music is way too loud for me. Check, please.
This music is too loud. I'm out of here.
Metaphorical use meaning 'I am ready to leave'.
Teste dich selbst
You are at a cafe in New York and want to pay. What do you say?
Excuse me, ___ ___!
`Check, please` is the most natural and polite way to ask for the bill in the US.
Which word is the British equivalent of 'check' in this context?
In London, you would say: 'The ___, please.'
While 'check' is American, 'bill' is the standard term in the UK.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of Asking for the Bill
Just the check!
Check!
Standard and polite
Check, please.
Very polite and indirect
Could we settle the tab, please?
Where to use 'Check, please'
Coffee Shop
After finishing a latte
Diner
After a big breakfast
Awkward Date
To leave quickly
Business Lunch
To get back to the office
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNot at all! As long as you say it with a smile and a polite tone, it is perfectly standard.
They will understand you, but it is better to say The bill, please in the UK.
You still say Check, please. Once they bring the folder, you can put your card inside.
Usually, you say it to your waiter. If there is a 'Pay at Counter' sign, you don't need to say it at the table.
It is a bit blunt. Adding please makes it much friendlier and more respectful.
It's a joke meaning 'I've heard enough and I want to leave this situation right now.'
Yes, you can say Could we have the check when you have a moment?
A tab is usually kept at a bar for multiple drinks. A check is usually for a seated meal.
You can, but if you are in a hurry, it is totally fine to initiate the request yourself.
It is better to wait until you are finished, unless you are in a huge rush and want to pay early.
Verwandte Redewendungen
The bill, please
The British/International version of the same request.
Can I settle up?
An informal way to say you want to pay what you owe.
It's on me
A way to tell your friends that you will pay for everyone.
Separate checks
Asking the waiter to give each person their own individual bill.
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