How do you use "Tab" in a sentence?

Start a tab for me, please. Put it on my tab. Can I close my tab?

Tab

Q: What does "Tab" mean?

A running bill to be paid later; credit at the bar. Running a tab means drinks are added to a bill that you pay at the end. You might start a tab by giving your card or in trusted pubs, just your word. 'Put it on my tab' means add it to the bill. Tabs require trust—some pubs won't offer them to strangers.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: A running bill to be paid later; credit at the bar.

全副武装的长途行军（军事）

Una marcha larga con equipo completo (militar)

フル装備での長距離行軍（軍事）

나중에 한꺼번에 계산하는 외상; 바에서의 외상.

Running a tab means drinks are added to a bill that you pay at the end. You might start a tab by giving your card or in trusted pubs, just your word. 'Put it on my tab' means add it to the bill. Tabs require trust—some pubs won't offer them to strangers.

英国陆军中指携带全套装备行军的俚语。常用于训练行军或徒步长距离移动。

Argot del ejército británico para una marcha o caminata llevando todo el equipo. A menudo se usa para marchas de entrenamiento o desplazamientos a pie de larga distancia.

フル装備を背負っての行軍を指すイギリス陸軍のスラング。訓練行軍や徒歩での長距離移動によく使われる。

'Running a tab'은 음료를 마실 때마다 기록해 두었다가 나중에 한꺼번에 계산하는 것이다. 카드를 맡기거나, 단골 술집에서는 말만으로도 외상이 가능하다. 'Put it on my tab'은 계산서에 추가해 달라는 뜻이다. 외상은 신뢰가 필요해서 처음 오는 손님에게는 안 해주는 술집도 있다.

Examples

Start a tab for me, please.
明天有20英里的行军
Mañana tenemos una marcha de 20 millas
明日20マイルの行軍がある
외상 열어 주세요.
Put it on my tab.
那次行军差点要了我的命
Esa marcha casi me mata
あの行軍で死にそうになった
내 외상에 올려 줘.
Can I close my tab?
行军翻过那些山丘然后扎营
Marchad hasta esas colinas y montad campamento
あの丘を越えて行軍し、キャンプを設営しろ
계산할게요.

Pronunciation

/tæb/

Usage Guide

Context: pub, bar, payment

Tone: practical, casual

✓ Do Say

Start a tab
开个账
Abrir una cuenta
ツケにしてくれ
행군 중
Put it on my tab
记在我的账上
Ponlo en mi cuenta
ツケにしておいて
장거리 행군
Close my tab
结账
Cierra mi cuenta
会計をお願い
장거리 행군

✗ Don't Say

Not all pubs offer tabs—don't assume
英国陆军特有的说法
Específico del ejército británico
イギリス陸軍特有の用語
모든 펍에서 외상이 되는 건 아님——당연히 여기지 말 것

Common Mistakes

Usually requires leaving a card or being known
Close your tab before leaving

Origin & History

From 'tabulation'—recording items on a list or bill. Tabs allow continuous drinking without individual transactions. They're standard in bars worldwide but carry particular significance in British pubs where they indicate the landlord trusts you.

Etymology: From tabulation (recording items)

First recorded: Standard bar terminology

Cultural Context

Era: Modern bar culture

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Bar culture globally

Regional notes: Universal in English-speaking bars.

Variations

TabRun a tabStart a tab

Tab