Have an apple.

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hello Alan, Mister Micawber, Beeesneees, Mordant, Esl_Expert and other native English speakers,

dictionaries.cambridge.org/defin … 5+0&dict=I
[color=red]Have an apple. It’ll take the edge off your hunger for a while.

Is this usage of [color=red]Have common in British English, not in American English? Do Americans say “Eat”?

2

Hi Tofu,

I have no idea what would be said in American English but in British English it simply means: Take an apple.

Alan

3

Have an apple / take an apple

have a seat / take a seat (The subject of another recent thread, whereby it was established that the phrases were both in use in the US and in the UK, but some users found one more formal than the other, which was considered to be far less commanding and more invitational in tone.)

Have a leaflet / take a leaflet

There are plenty of examples.

4

Either “have” or “take” works in American English. I would say the former sounds slightly more polite.

5

So in American English ‘take an apple’ means ‘eat an apple’?[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, question-response: How come I wasn’t told about the plan?[YSaerTTEW443543]

6

Not necessarily, Torsten.

“Have” and “take” both offer something.

“Have” can also mean “to eat or drink.”

Have a glass of milk before bed each night.

“Take” doesn’t mean “to eat or drink,” but since this is food, that desire will be implied with the offer a lot.

7

No, Torsten. I don’t vbelieve there is any difference in the meaning between American and British English.

Have an apple = take an apple = help yourself to an apple.

8

Bees, we posted at the same time, according to the text above our posts.

9

So “Have an apple, It’ll take the edge off your hunger for a while” means ‘Eat an apple to get rid of this hunger for a while’?[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, question-response: Have you gone to lunch yet?[YSaerTTEW443543]

10

Torsten, that sounds like an offer to me. I would interpret that as “take.”

We have chicken every Thursday.

There is a clearer example of “have” for “eat” or “drink.”

11

Hi Mordant, so why did they use this phrase in the dictionary entry it just means ‘take an apple’. What is the connection between taking an apple and taking off the edge off your hunger?

Many thanks,
Torsten[YSaerTTEW443543]

TOEIC listening, question-response: Do you prefer chicken or beef?[YSaerTTEW443543]