(no subject)

[pensnest]

American usage query: if you want someone to phone for a taxi, do you say

we'll ask/get them to call us/up a cab/taxi

or something else?

Comments

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

we'll call a cab /or/ call me a cab which is odd, because in cities with cabs in much use you'd hail a cab by yelling TAXI!. ;-) exact wording would depend on where it's being used.

[pensnest]

I think we do the same - I get dizzy sometimes trying to remember what's British behaviour, what's American behaviour, and what's both.

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

lol, me too! which makes for interesting dining experiences, which is when I tend to mess up the most. Ah well. Hope I was at least entertaining if not helpful. :-)

[pensnest]

It took me about as long to be sure of that little phrase as to write the whole ficlet... Thanks for the help!

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Hm. Around here we'd say "Can you call a cab for us?"

But as msktrnanny points out, it's different for cities. The smaller towns, they aren't just riding about, looking for fare. They go back to the shop until someone calls for one. ;-)

[pensnest]

My characters are feeding in a restaurant (would it have to be a café, if they're having breakfast there?) and don't really know where they are, so the obvious solution is to get a taxi to take them home.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

I guess the thing at this point is ... Big city or smaller? We have about 45k people here and... we call for them.

And no, many restaurants have breakfast times/menus, too, so it wouldn't have to be a cafe.

[pensnest]

I'm going to make it rather vaguely one of the 'satellite' areas near Orlando. It'll do. Thanks!

[msktrnanny.livejournal.com]

we even have restaurants that serve breakfast all day. and we wouldn't say feeding, but I do love that phrasing!

Goodness. I hope they're not too far afield, cab fare is costly!

[pensnest]

's okay, they're rich guys! ;-)

[zillahseye.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd say "Can someone call us a cab?" Or "I'll/Let's call a cab." And as others have said, unless it's a metropolis, you'd have to use a phone. And there are places here that have breakfast hours--usually opening time to 11am around here, though most diners I know serve breakfast all day. If it's at a very fancy place or adjacent to an airport or hotel, there might be a cab service related to the restaurant or cabs waiting in the drive-up area. And as others have said, in a big city you could probably just flag one.

[pensnest]

It looks as though my assumptions were all good, which is a relief! Thanks. It might be a diner they're in, but I think it'll do as is. :-)

[puszysty.livejournal.com]

You usually don't say "up". It's more just "get them to call us a taxi/cab" Cab and taxi are pretty interchangeable.

And if they're at a diner, the diner people will likely just give you the number to call b/c they're too busy to make the call themselves. I think the only places around here that do the calling for you are hotels and bars.

[pensnest]

I'd got into my head the idea of "call you up", which is definitely not something I would say, so I'm not really sure when that 'up' might sneak in there.

Thanks!