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Thread: 'To tank up', used for petrol in BrE?

  1. #1
    Mehrgan's Avatar
    Mehrgan is offline Senior Member
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    Default 'To tank up', used for petrol in BrE?

    Hi,

    Is 'tank up' a common verb in BrE? May I know what the American equivalent is?

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    Rover_KE is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: 'To tank up', used for petrol in BrE?

    'Tanked up' means drunk.

    In BE we use 'fill up'. I've heard Americans say 'gas up.'

    Rover
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    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: 'To tank up', used for petrol in BrE?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mehrgan View Post
    Is 'tank up' a common verb in BrE?
    I have only heard it used for drinking a lot/too much alcohol - get/be tanked up - and not for petrol.
    bhaisahab, Radman, 5jj and 2 others like this.

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    SoothingDave is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: 'To tank up', used for petrol in BrE?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mehrgan View Post
    Hi,

    Is 'tank up' a common verb in BrE? May I know what the American equivalent is?
    I would normally say simply that I need to get gas. "Fill 'er up" is the traditional command to the service station attendant, back before self-pumping became the norm in most places.

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    Default Re: 'To tank up', used for petrol in BrE?

    "Fill it up" or "Fill 'er up" in BrE too when at a serviced petrol station (few and far between). When at a self-service petrol station, we would just say to someone "I'm going to fill up with petrol" or "I need to get petrol". Needless to say, we don't always put a full tank of petrol in the car. The price of petrol in the UK prohibits that for many people!
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    Default Re: 'To tank up', used for petrol in BrE?

    Quote Originally Posted by emsr2d2 View Post
    ... Needless to say, we don't always put a full tank of petrol in the car. ...
    A good thing too, from the point of view of the planet. Carrying dead weight around to make life marginally more convenient is a criminal waste. Here endeth the lesson for today?

    b
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    SoothingDave is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: 'To tank up', used for petrol in BrE?

    Quote Originally Posted by BobK View Post
    A good thing too, from the point of view of the planet. Carrying dead weight around to make life marginally more convenient is a criminal waste. Here endeth the lesson for today?

    b
    On the other hand, if prices are rising, it makes economic sense to fill up. Many of us have cars which double in value whe the gas tank is full!
    Rover_KE, emsr2d2, 5jj and 1 others like this.

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