At UK restaurants, is gesturing for the bill by air-writing a signature with you thumb and index finger considered acceptable?

36 comments

1. I used to do this in the UK and it was universally understood. That was a while ago now though, so I guess the average 20 year old server may not ever have seen a cheque or even know what a cheque is.

2. I do it all the time and have never had any misunderstanding or negative reaction, did it yesterday in fact. Had no idea people think it’s rude or really why anyone would think it was rude. It’s hardly snapping your fingers and calling for the garçon is it. But I also smile and mouth “can I have the bill please” so maybe that’s the trick 

   Edit: also I “write” on my left palm and not just in the air, and I keep my hands fairly low so it’s quite a subtle thing 

3. Yes it is acceptable, people do it all the time. It is not rude. It is quick way to get info across

   Edit: i worked in hospitality for over 8 years. It wasnt rude. Saved me going back and forth

4. Really no idea what many of these responders are on about. I worked in bars and restaurants for 15 years and this is a very common way to ask for the bill and neither I nor my colleagues found it rude. 

5. I do if the server is miles away and I’ve grabbed their attention.  But do it as if I’m air writing on the palm of my hand.  Keeps it more subtle than swinging your arms around.

   I always assumed I was saving them the schlep over to your table and back when a simple gesture can give them all the information they need across a busy restraunt.  Of course this depends on your general demeanor throughout, and when they acknowledge you, give them a kind smile.

   Works universally in my experience, but I always assumed I was miming them writing out the bill.

6. My problem is getting the attention of the server so they will see the hand gesture.

7. This is a universal and global method of signalling that you want the bill. It is extremely common here and not at all rude.

   Anyone suggesting otherwise is simply wrong.

8. I used to waitress way back in the late 90’s and it was definitely acceptable then. I’ll do it if the server is super busy and I’m in a rush. It’s not rude. Most chain restaurants train the staff to upsell at every opportunity so them coming to clarify is probably for that reason.

9. I’ve never been to the US but always do this in the UK and zero out of hundreds of times has someone not known what I meant

10. Normal

11. The responses to this thread are hilariously overdramatic. I’ve used this when needed all my life, it’s totally fine and very common. Just don’t be pushy or impatient like with any other interaction.

12. I’m all for talking shit about the UK, but this has always worked for me. Maybe your “bill, pls” gesture needs work.

13. Maybe this is a bit regional, because we have some people saying this is very normal but I’m in my 30s and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of this, I’ve never seen anyone doing it. Although admittedly I’m generally not spending a lot of time staring at other restaurant patrons

14. I’ve always done it, in the UK, never had it not be understood.

15. Too many responders on their high horse, looking to be offended here.

    The gesture is universally understood and not rude

16. If you don’t do this you’ll still be sat there three hours later 😂

17. When I was a waitress in a restaurant, I actually preferred people asking for the bill that way, it saved time for both of us, especially when it was busy.

18. It’s not particularly rude to indicate that you want the bill with some sort of gesture, but clicking your fingers at the waiter/waitress is rude.

19. I’ve seen this done all over the world, I think it works in most countries.

20. It’s extremely common and not rude. My son (who worked his way through uni as a bartender/waiter) refers to it as the universal sign for “can I get the check”.

21. It’s normal. Anyone saying it’s rude is deluded.

22. No, the approved method is to make eye contact with them as they walk past and BARELY change your facial expression, hoping they’ll be able to discern what you mean.

    I’ve been in the restaurant since last Tuesday waiting, but that’s the price we pay for politeness.

23. I’ve done it in Canada, all over the UK and elsewhere in Europe when the waiting staff is far and I want to pass the message without having to drag them all the way to my table. Usually I get a nod or thumbs up and I sign back a thumbs up. It’s universally accepted and understood.

24. Yes it is. Not just in the UK but it is more or less the international signal everywhere.

25. As someone who worked in restaurants for 8 years it’s absolutely fine, you have communicated with me what you want and I don’t have to go across the restaurant just to hear

    “can we get the bill please”

    Some people can make it quite rude, but those are the sort of people who would be rude asking for the bill verbally.

26. No issue with it really. Although a head raise a mouthing ‘the bill!’ Is also common

27. Yes but, I think we always mouth the words “the bill” as well and a smile.

28. Happens all the time and is not considered rude by staff (worked hospitality for over 10 years). In a lot of cases it can be appreciated as if you make eye contact with us and we cross the restaurant to get to you only to be asked for the bill there’s a sense of ‘damn I was just there I could of brought that with me’.

29. Yes, normally while mouthing ‘can I get the bill please?’

30. Is it just younger waiting staff have absolutely no idea what you’re doing with your hands when you pretend to be signing something?

    Best hold up an imaginary wristwatch and turn it downwards onto an imaginary reader device whilst you mouth “BEEEEEP”.

31. However, asking for the bill and the card machine (because you know you’re going to pay it) almost always results in just the bill arriving

32. Usually just shout oi pablo do you take shrapnel

33. Yes. Clicking your fingers is not.

34. When you do the hand action you have to mouth very obviously “CAN WE GET THE BILL PLEASE” Really over exaggerate it, then do a small awkward smile afterwards.

    Its the law.

35. Yeah, this is fine. As a former waiter I found it helpful as it saved me a trip back to fetch the bill and the card machine.

36. It’s not rude, it saves the waiter from walking over. Clicking your fingers or shouting ‘waiter’ is rude.