keep the change

Meaning

This is a polite phrase used when paying for a service (such as a taxi ride, restaurant bill, or delivery) with cash. It tells the service provider that they do not need to return the leftover coins or small bills, and can keep them as a tip.

Examples

• The taxi fare was fourteen dollars, so I gave him a twenty and told him to keep the change.

  The taxi fare was fourteen dollars, so I gave him a twenty and told him to keep the change.

• Here is ten dollars for the coffee, keep the change.

  Here is ten dollars for the coffee, keep the change.

• He handed the pizza delivery guy a fifty-dollar bill and said, 'Keep the change.'

  He handed the pizza delivery guy a fifty-dollar bill and said, 'Keep the change.'

• It's common to tell taxi drivers to keep the change if they were friendly and fast.

  It's common to tell taxi drivers to keep the change if they were friendly and fast.

• The bill is eight fifty, so just make it ten and keep the change.

  The bill is eight fifty, so just make it ten and keep the change.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please hold the change.

  ✓ Keep the change.

  'Hold' is a literal translation error from some other languages. In English, the standard phrase is always 'keep the change'.

• ✗ You can save the change.

  ✓ Keep the change.

  'Save' implies putting money away for future use. 'Keep' is the correct verb when letting someone else have the remaining cash as a tip.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The ride was nine dollars. Here is a ten, please ___.

  💡 Tell the driver to have the rest of the money as a tip.

  Show answer

  keep the change

• I always tell the delivery driver to ___ when the weather is bad.

  💡 Let them have the leftover coins/bills.

  Show answer

  keep the change