could do with....

[goingtocalifornia]

We use “could do” for suggestions in certain situation in the UK.

e.g. I could do with asandwich, pint, etc

I have come across in books by American authors (cannot give any context now) “I could use....”.

Does it mean the same?

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, it does.

 

[Tdol]

They mean the same, and we use the second in BrE, but I would say it's more an expression of wish/intent/desire etc than a direct suggestion- it's a sort-of suggestion. It could be a suggestion if you think the others want something else or when people are asking for suggestions.

 

[BobK]

Another (informal) variant is 'I could murder...'. 'I could murder a steak' expresses a rather more urgent desire than 'I could use a steak'.

b

 

[goingtocalifornia]

Another (informal) variant is 'I could murder...'. 'I could murder a steak' expresses a rather more urgent desire than 'I could use a steak'.

b

Thanks a lot, never heard of that expression.

I imagine myself on a date and saying: I am dying for a coffee, and could murder a steak. How romantic

 

[SoothingDave]

I could go for a beer.