So....what do you think of this? Last night I joined friends in the bar at a fancy

Well...Czech is generally a more formal language, anyway, and American English

is not. I guess it's all about context, and generational use--my parents' generation and mine would never use the word "invite," especially to a dinner, or gathering, without assuming responsibility for the invitee's share. But I think my brother's generation, and most people under 30, probably would assume that everyone pays his/her way, even if the invitation was extended to a movie or dinner or gathering. (Different story if we're talking about dating.) smileys/wink.gif

Maybe it all boils down to context and levels of familiarity among friends. But even then--if you use the term "poznavat" in Czech, it automatically means that you're paying for the invitee. In American English, "invite" no longer has this connotation, I think--or, if it does, it's falling out of use....

/major English-major nerd smileys/wink.gif

 
I'm afraid you're right--but when I want to get together with a group and not pay the bill,

I don't issue an invitation, I say, "Let's all go to ______. It's not too expensive if we share." I think people take advantage of the confusion to get their birthday dinners and such paid for.

In French they say, "Vous etes mes invites" or "you are my invitees." Nothing ambiguous about that. Every time I've dined in France they lament their poverty through the whole meal and then practically fist fight over who gets to pay the check. It's a nice system for a visitor.

 
We had this happen frequently with the 'oh, here's our share'

tossed into the kitty to pay the bill. Well, these were the folks that ordered the funky apps that no one shared, the expensive mixed drinks, and the $$$ dinners. Another couple and us would end up paying most of the bill. We finally, when separate checks weren't an option, started digging out the calculator before any money came forward.

 
I just assume that the bill will be split equally...

It's a social situation and if there is food and drink to be had, it will be split, that is my understanding, in the US, in the UK, in Australia or in South America.

If I feel that I cannot afford to, or do not want to contibute, equally, I will not go. I would rather go out with people individually than have angst at check time.

The UK has a terrific custom called "the whip", when the night starts at the pub everyone puts in an agreed equal amount into the whip and one person holds it. The drinks are paid from the whip as the night goes along. If a new perosn comes in, they add in the same amount, and when the money runs out, you re-whip. If there is leftover, you either split it up or go out for a meal. Simple.

If it's a small group of people, say 4-5, each person buys a round and so on...

 
"The whip" was called a "Kitty" when we girls used to bar/nightclub hop back in my early

twenties in Philly. Unfortunately, we often burned out our kitty money too early in the evening and had to replenish it. Sometimes the "kitty" money left would not even give us a bagel and cream cheese for breakfast!

Yes I agree Sandra, that's the way to go!

 
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