# Would you call for the 'check' or the 'bill' in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422 "2012-04-30T16:06:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tayto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Tayto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tayto)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/1 "2012-04-30T16:06:05Z")
Hi there, Am editing a piece with a restaurant scene and am wondering whether it would be more common to call for the ‘check’ or the ‘bill’, or whether both are used? We tend to use ‘bill’ here in Ireland but this particular scene is set in a restaurant in the US. Many thanks, T. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/2 "2012-04-30T16:08:43Z")
“Check, please”. In a noisy environment like a pub, I would pantomime a signature, which seems to be a universal thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/3 "2012-04-30T16:11:17Z")
“¡Señor, la cuenta, por favor!” ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/4 "2012-04-30T16:13:31Z")
Check. Midwestern US (Chicago), here. I might use “tab” in a bar, but probably in the context of “paying the tab” or “running/opening a tab.” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/5 "2012-04-30T16:14:41Z")
Check, in South Carolina. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/6 "2012-04-30T16:20:20Z")
It’s always the check here in Kentucky. Bill seems to make more sense, though. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/7 "2012-04-30T16:21:49Z")
Check is close to universal in American English. So much so, in fact, that Americans have to be advised (in travel guides) to say “bill” when dining in other parts of the English-speaking world, or with staff speaking English as a second language. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/8 "2012-04-30T16:23:46Z")
Check. Massachusetts. ETA: I agree that “bill” makes more sense, but “check” is very ingrained and we’re unlikely to change it. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/9 "2012-04-30T16:26:57Z")
I usually ask for a purchase order or an invoice. Then I’m all like what? I don’t know accounting terms. Serious answer: Check. Bill sounds weird. ---
**Author:** ![Tayto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Tayto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tayto)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/10 "2012-04-30T16:29:18Z")
Check it is then. Thank you, kind people. T. ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/11 "2012-04-30T16:37:48Z")
Check if I’m at a restaurant. Tab if I’m sitting at a bar. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/12 "2012-04-30T16:38:19Z")
Bring me the check please, but… send me the bill. (NY) ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/13 "2012-04-30T16:40:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > “Check, please”. > > In a noisy environment like a pub, I would pantomime a signature, which seems to be a universal thing. I just pantomime a checking motion. My signature is too long :D. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/14 "2012-04-30T16:41:18Z")
Check. As noted, it’ll be pretty universal (well, US-universal) in favor of check. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/15 "2012-04-30T16:42:22Z")
Huh. I’ve always said bill, despite the cliched “Check please!” Waitress asks me “Can I get you anything else?” I say “Just the bill.” SE Michigan ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/16 "2012-04-30T16:47:12Z")
La checkio. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/17 "2012-04-30T16:47:30Z")
I always ask for “the little piece of paper that shows me how much I owe you.” I usually get what I asked for after some strange looks. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/18 "2012-04-30T16:48:09Z")
‘Bill’ is more likely what I’d use too (N. California). Though I wouldn’t notice it at all if I was with someone else who asked for ‘the check’, and if someone provided audio evidence of me saying “check”, I wouldn’t be surprised [aside from wondering why you have that]. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/19 "2012-04-30T16:52:52Z")
It’s definitely a check at a restaurant. But that term is mostly exclusive to restaurants. You wouldn’t ask for your check at a hotel or a car repair shop. Bill’s the common term so I don’t think anyone who notice if you asked for your bill at a restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422/20 "2012-04-30T17:46:59Z")
You will be understood using either check or bill in the US. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-call-for-the-check-or-the-bill-in-the-us/620422.md?page=2)