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Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:48 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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| Americans use the word "till" almost exclusively in the expression "to have one's fingers in the till", which means to be embezzling. When Americans hear that word, they usually think of dishonesty. So for an international audience it would be better to use some other term than "till". |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 4720 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:37 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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Thanks for that, Jamie. So does 'cash register systems and operating the checkout' sound OK? _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 8259 Location: EU
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:45 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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Hi Torsten,
'Till' is still used and of course the reference to 'fingers in the till' applies here, too or you can describe that person as having 'sticky fingers'. Interestingly we have taken on the word 'checkout' for the actual place where you pay in a supermarket but the piece of paper telling you what you have paid is known as a 'till receipt'.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/run |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 7738 Location: UK
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:55 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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"German occupation" has a strange ring to it.
Are you sure it's the right collocation? |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:58 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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| Quote: | | Interestingly we have taken on the word 'checkout' for the actual place where you pay in a supermarket |
Told you that dialect was creeping in, didn't I. You'll all be saying "Did you eat yet?" next. |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:04 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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. I had the same thought actually, Torsten. I suggest: a German vocational program.
And yes, this sounds fine to me, too: Cash Register Systems and Working at the Checkout. . _________________ Canadian-American native speaker who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 5122 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:06 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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Can someone please tell me if this phrase is good English:
- cash register systems and operating the checkout
It's supposed to be part of the things sales trainees are taught throughout their occupational program.
Thanks a lot, Torsten _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 8259 Location: EU
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:06 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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. Oh, that was weird-- a hole in the space-time continuum.
Yes, operating is OK too.
. _________________ Canadian-American native speaker who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach

Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 5122 Location: Yokohama, Japan
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:25 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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Hi Charles,
Thanks a lot for your immediate response -- we obviously were writing our messages at the same time. _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 8259 Location: EU
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:33 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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| Molly wrote: | "German occupation" has a strange ring to it.
Are you sure it's the right collocation? |
You are right, Molly. It does sound strange and might be the right collocation to talk about the events that started WWII. As Charles suggested, 'German vocational training' is certainly much better. Thanks for pointing it out. _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 8259 Location: EU
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:39 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: | | Americans use the word "till" almost exclusively in the expression "to have one's fingers in the till", which means to be embezzling. When Americans hear that word, they usually think of dishonesty. So for an international audience it would be better to use some other term than "till". |
Jamie, what is the American equivalent to "till records" and "cashing up" (the process of emptying the till at the end of the day and checking the amount of money in it against the till records).
Thanks a lot, Torsten _________________ Test Of English for International Communication TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary |
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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 8259 Location: EU
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:57 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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| Quote: | | You are right, Molly. It does sound strange and might be the right collocation to talk about the events that started WWII. |
Or the arrival of your countrymen/women here in Spain, each year.  |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:10 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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| Torsten wrote: | | Jamie (K) wrote: | | Americans use the word "till" almost exclusively in the expression "to have one's fingers in the till", which means to be embezzling. When Americans hear that word, they usually think of dishonesty. So for an international audience it would be better to use some other term than "till". |
Jamie, what is the American equivalent to "till records" and "cashing up" (the process of emptying the till at the end of the day and checking the amount of money in it against the till records). |
I'm not sure what we would call "till records". I think instead we talk about the "cash register totals" or the "register totals". It's one of those cases where one country talks about a thing, and the other country talks about the records of the thing. (That's a problem I often have when translating, for example.) "Cashing up" is called "closing the cash register". I think you can also say "balancing the register", and I know for sure that bank tellers "balance" at the end of the day. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 4720 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:11 am cash register systems and working at the checkout? |
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| Torsten wrote: | Hi,
I'm currently translating a document that describes the syllabus of a German occupation program for retails sales people. Could you please take a look at this expression (as part of the syllabus): - cash register systems and working at the checkout
Or maybe "cash register systems" and "operating the till"?
Would that be correct English? By the way, is 'till' the British term for 'checkout'?
Thanks a lot, Torsten |
You got it right there. _________________ Test of English as a Foreign Language TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher |
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Ralf Language Coach

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 1485 Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)
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| checkout as a service area? | cashiering? |