bill, please

Meaning

This is a short, polite way to ask a server for the total cost of your meal at the end of a dining experience. In British, Australian, and European English, "bill" is the standard term, while American English speakers usually say "check". Adding "please" makes this casual request polite and respectful.

Examples

• Excuse me, could we have the bill, please?

  Excuse me, could we have the bill, please?

• We are in a bit of a hurry, so just the bill, please.

  We are in a bit of a hurry, so just the bill, please.

• That was a wonderful dinner; the bill, please, whenever you're ready.

  That was a wonderful dinner; the bill, please, whenever you're ready.

• Can I pay by card? The bill, please.

  Can I pay by card? The bill, please.

• We're ready to leave now, so the bill, please.

  We're ready to leave now, so the bill, please.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Give me the ticket, please.

  ✓ Could I have the bill, please?

  In English, a "ticket" is for trains, movies, or parking. For restaurants, you must ask for the "bill" or "check".

• ✗ I want to pay the recipe, please.

  ✓ The bill, please.

  "Recipe" is a false friend in many European languages (e.g., "recept", "ricetta"). A recipe is instructions for cooking; the restaurant document is the "bill".

Related Expressions

Practice

• We're finished eating. Could we get the ___?

  💡 A polite, casual request to pay for your meal.

  Show answer

  bill, please

• Excuse me, we need to go. The ___.

  💡 What you ask the waiter for when you want to pay.

  Show answer

  bill, please