run a tab

Meaning

To open a running bill at a bar, restaurant, or hotel, allowing you to charge your purchases and pay for everything at the end of your visit instead of paying for each item individually.

Examples

• We decided to run a tab at the hotel bar and settle the bill when we checked out.

  We decided to run a tab at the hotel bar and settle the bill when we checked out.

• The bartender asked if I wanted to pay now or run a tab.

  The bartender asked if I wanted to pay now or run a tab.

• Make sure you don't run a tab too high, or you'll get a shock at the end of the night.

  Make sure you don't run a tab too high, or you'll get a shock at the end of the night.

• They let us run a tab during our stay, which made ordering drinks by the pool so much easier.

  They let us run a tab during our stay, which made ordering drinks by the pool so much easier.

• Can I run a tab under room 402, please?

  Can I run a tab under room 402, please?

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to open a table at the bar.

  ✓ I want to run a tab at the bar.

  Learners often confuse 'tab' (an ongoing bill) with 'table' (furniture) because they sound somewhat similar.

• ✗ The bartender ran me a tab.

  ✓ The bartender opened a tab for me.

  Grammatically, you 'run a tab' yourself, or the establishment 'opens a tab' for you. You do not 'run someone' a tab.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Instead of paying for each drink, let's just ___ and pay at the end.

  💡 keep a running bill

  Show answer

  run a tab

• Can I ___ under my last name, Smith?

  💡 charge items to an ongoing bill

  Show answer

  run a tab