Guelder Rose

Not being an expert when it comes to the English language, I'm hoping that someone here may enlighten me.

I've noticed that my US family always say, "I'm taking a bath/shower" whereas I would say "I'm having a bath/shower". Whenever I hear the former I always wonder where they are going to take the bath to, it just doesn't sound right - well, not to me anyway.

What I don't know is whether this an English/US variance, whether both are correct or whether one is more correct than the other - so can anyone here provide an answer (I think FatBrit is an expert on this subject?).

AdobePinon

I sense a can of worms being cracked open.

I think I actually use both. Never noticed until you mentioned it. It's like the old argument about whether you're in someplace, or at someplace. A mixture of historical usage and dialects I'm sure...

I think both are correct. You can take an object toward you, as much as you can take it with you.

Wintersong

I use both too, but I think I'd be right in saying that "take a bath" is more American?

elfman

Not meaning to lower the tone, but I've also noticed Americans will always say take a piss/shit, whereas Britons tend to say have.

Perhaps the two nations could come to some form of liguistic compromise - maybe we could all use the word enjoy in these situations?

Guelder Rose

Nope, no can of worms being opened ... something that I've noticed but said nowt about.

Guelder Rose

That's what I was wondering, because I had never heard it said that way till I came here. The only thing that is beginning to irritate me is that I sometimes hear myself saying 'take' instead of 'have' now!

Something else I've noticed is that everything is 'up' somewhere even when it's not up, as in "It's up in my closet" - this being said when I'm standing beside the closet! This one does irritate me no end, just as 'me this' and 'me that' irritates me ... I'm the culprit of that one and no amount of trying to stop doing it helps (I think that is an Essex/London thing!).

Noorah101

I'm American, and I've always said "take". I thought it was interesting to hear "have" when I visited friends in England.

Rene

mandpete

Have a shower is definitely English.
Take a shower is definitely American.

I've noticed the same when ordering food
English - Could I have .......please?
American - I'll take a ............?/Can I get a....?

Wintersong

I've always said "Could I get a....?"

Never thought anything of it, until I was asked by one barman (in Essex) whereabouts the phrase came from because he'd never heard it. I wondered whether maybe it was American and I'd picked it up through watching films or something.

joto

It's the visiting someone (UK) or visiting with someone (USA). With the USA version it sounded like you were going with someone to visit someone else. Got me very confused when I came here at first.

snowbunny

Simple.

The American verb is an active verb. The American is ACTION MAN (or woman). Taking -- showers. leaks (errr, pisses). Big Macs.

The British verb is a passive verb. "Please -- could you add this to my inventory?" A clean body. A plate of food.

fatbrit

The American English is: "I need..."

It's usually said by some fat slob ordering three Big Macs.

Wintersong

And a diet coke.

Bob

With the salad on the side

Elvira

Just wanted to say I love your new tagline...