[Ads-l] Query from reporter concerning restaurant term "check":

[Cohen, Gerald Leonard]

Dear members of ads-l,

Below my signoff is a query I received from a reporter concerning the restaurant term "check."
(Why "check"? Why not "bill"?)
Might anyone on ads-l be able to provide a clear answer? She would like to know the origin of this usage.
Any help would be very gratefully received.

Sincerely,

Gerald Cohen

________________________________
From: Janet Nguyen <jnguyen at marketplace.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 3, 2022 12:11 PM
To: Cohen, Gerald Leonard <gcohen at mst.edu>
Subject: Interview request


Hi Professor Cohen,



My name is Janet Nguyen, and I’m a reporter for the public radio program/website Marketplace. I’m reaching out to you because I’m currently writing a piece as part of our I’ve Always Wondered series<https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marketplace.org%2F2022%2F06%2F03%2Fhow-much-food-are-we-wasting%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cgcohen%40mst.edu%7C8f7073e1445446cc9f0608da7580979b%7Ce3fefdbef7e9401ba51a355e01b05a89%7C0%7C0%7C637951492564144152%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=eqnjLs0MzMjV1fSycceoWymxI985S07lASKqotgj%2B68%3D&reserved=0>, where we answer listener questions, about why people refer to the bill at restaurants as “the check” (e.g. People will say “check, please!” instead of asking for “the bill”).



I was wondering if you are familiar with its origins or have any insight into why we might call it that. If this is a topic you could speak to, would you have some time to chat this week, before Friday? This would be for an online, written piece (so no audio recording would be publicly posted).



Your time and insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!



Best,



Janet

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