in the city

[optimistic pessimist]

Dear all,
[FONT=&#65325]If you simply hear, "The photographer had a big sunny studio in a building in the city..."

does "the city" mean "the city centre", or "a particular city in the context"?
[/FONT][FONT=&#65325]
I heard that in British English "the city" can mean the busy area in a city, like "downtown" in American English. So, I'm not sure what "the city" refers to in the sentence above.
[/FONT][FONT=&#65325]Thank you[/FONT]
[FONT=&#65325]OP[/FONT]

 

[5jj]

It depends on context. It could just mean 'city' as opposed to 'country.

 

[SoothingDave]

Or in the city limits and not in one of the adjoining communities. Not necessarily in a downtown.

 

[emsr2d2]

If it was capitalised, the "City" would refer to the financial district of London, also known as the "Square Mile".

 

[yazmin cruz]

I think "the city" in this case means downtown

 

[5jj]

I think "the city" in this case means downtown

We simply cannot be certain without more context.