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Joined: Jan 2001
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journeyman
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OP
journeyman
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 96 |
Eating lunch with my sons and our German Exchange student, after I had paid the bill, the German son said, "I think that next time I will have to revenge" I said, "I think you mean 'reciprocate!!' After I explained the difference, he said "well it still means the same, so I choose revenge, because we did not learn the word reciprocate, and I will never remember it" Thinking about this---he is right!!!????
enthusiast
enthusiast
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,981 |
I didn't realise that "bill" was used in the US. I thought that "check" was more common, are the different terms used regionally or just interchangeably?
The UK usage is exclusively "bill", never "check", although I also like the slang term "damage".
I remember an Italian friend calling it the "dolorosa", which is also true!
To pay we never write checks, only ever cheques.
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Joined: Nov 2000
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
In reply to:
revenge/reciprocate
No, of course he isn't right. They don't mean quite the same thing. Reciprocate has meanings fairly close to revenge, but it also has others not so close. What does he think a reciprocating engine does? This is the peculiarity of the English language -- it has an enormous number of words, many of which mean exactly, or almost exactly the same as another, but more often with not quite the same, the differences in meaning often being very subtle.
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Joined: Nov 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
BYB asked What does he think a reciprocating engine does?Whatever, mine had its revenge on me last week by blowing up. Well, it was the auto trans, but near enough. The car stopped. 
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
The common useage (in this 'hood) is "check", and when you get it, especially at the corner "ham 'n egger" or "greasy diner", they tear a sheet out of thier pad and it says "CHECK No.(insert # here)" right at the top. I always say "bill", or comment to a "check" request with "They pay you to eat here?"  . BYB - Is there a difference between a reciprocating engine and an internal combustion engine? Isn't that the idea behind having pistons in the first place?
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Joined: Oct 2000
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member
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member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 197 |
I use bill and check interchangably for resturaunts. I might be slightly more likely to say bill, but my husband usually says check, so it balances out. In a store or through mail it's a bill, never a check.
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891 |
No no, a check is one of those little pointy marks you put beside an item on a list to say you counted it. Awad system won’t let me write one in to show you  A cheque is what you pay a bill with if you are not using cash and usually, the cheque... ...is in the mail  .
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
Mais non, ma cherie. The little pointy thing to signify "correct" or "done that" is called a tick.
Bingley
Bingley
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
The Indonesian for parking fee is retribusi parkir .
Bingley
Bingley
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Joined: Sep 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,891 |
I beg to differ Bingley mon chou, you tick something off a list with a check mark. Hmmm, do you call it a tick mark over on your side of the ocean? That could explain it.
A tick is a multi-legged insect that attaches itself to a dog, cat or deer and harangues the hell out of 'em.
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