Marcius Sanctus
Senior Member
Brazil
Brazil
- Jun 15, 2007
- #1
Take a shower and take a bath is the same thing?
thanks.
nichec
Senior Member
Chinese(Taiwan)
- Jun 15, 2007
- #2
marcio dos santos said:
Take a shower and take a bath is the same thing?
thanks.
No. You stay stood up while taking a shower, and you lie inside of the bathtub when you are taking a bath.
JamesM
Senior Member
Los Angeles, California
English, USA
- Jun 15, 2007
- #3
A shower is taken under running water, standing up, as Nichec says. A bath is taken in (usually) still water in a tub of some kind, lying down or sitting up.
Trisia
Senior Member
București
Romanian
- Jun 15, 2007
- #4
At school they always taught us: you have a bath, you take a shower. Were they wrong?
nichec
Senior Member
Chinese(Taiwan)
- Jun 15, 2007
- #5
Trisia said:
At school they always taught us: you have a bath, you take a shower. Were they wrong?
Hmmm.....It doesn't sound wrong to me.
But I always say/hear: "I'm going to take a bath"
A
AntonyM
Member
Caspar, California
USA English
- Jun 15, 2007
- #6
I love the idea that there are so many ways in English to express even these simple acts of ablution. In other languages it is more customary to use particular verbs to match particular actions... In Italian, for example, one "makes" or "does" (fare) a bath. To make a bath in English would likely mean to draw a bath, or in other words, to fill the bath tub. One would not "take" a bath in Italian, but certainly would do so in English. I think I'll go have one now.
AWordLover
Senior Member
Atlanta, Georgia USA
USA English
- Jun 15, 2007
- #7
Trisia said:
At school they always taught us: you have a bath, you take a shower. Were they wrong?
Hi,
I believe I can have or take either a bath or a shower.
However, I usually take a shower or have a bath.
In the stock market, when I lose money in a stock, I take a bath, not have a bath.
panjandrum
Senior Member
Belfast, Ireland
English-Ireland (top end)
- Jun 15, 2007
- #8
It really strains the brain when people ask about such routine and everyday expressions.
I think I have a shower, or a bath.
I don't think take a bath/shower comes naturally to me (once a year whether I need it or not).
L
luli_km1
New Member
Spanish-Uruguay
- Aug 7, 2009
- #9
I have a HUGE doubt. If you are showering (cleaning yourself) would you say you were TAKING a shower or HAVING a shower.
For example:
I was taking a shower when the phone rang.
OR
I was having a shower when the phone rang.
Thank you!
Lucia
entangledbank
Senior Member
London
English - South-East England
- Aug 7, 2009
- #10
There is, I believe, an AE/BE difference here: AE 'take a shower/bath', BE 'have a shower/bath'. Not strict, but 'take' sounds AE to me and I would usually say 'have'.
Pedro y La Torre
Senior Member
Île-de-France
English - Ireland
- Aug 7, 2009
- #11
Both are acceptable to me.
If I'm just after playing* a rugby/soccer match, I will "take" a shower. If I have just gotten up though, I will "have" a shower.
What that proves, I do not know.
*Means if I've just finished playing a rugby/soccer match for the non-Irish out there.
panjandrum
Senior Member
Belfast, Ireland
English-Ireland (top end)
- Aug 7, 2009
- #12
To forestall a digression - further information about PdT's "I'm just after playing ..." construction can be found in I am after seeing him
JulianStuart
Senior Member
Sonoma County CA
English (UK then US)
- Aug 7, 2009
- #13
I go along with entangled about have and take and a AmE BrE trend. I grew up in England at a time when showers were rare, then I moved to the US where they are common. So my experience was hearing "have a bath" and "take a shower". I don't think I've ever said "take a bath" but I've both had and taken a shower, even though I only played rugby when I was in England 
N
nongprue
Member
Thaïlande
Français
- Aug 10, 2015
- #14
Hello,
The two modes of expression are corrects.
I'm going to take a bath
I've got to have a hot bath.
I want to take a shower
I'm just gonna go have a shower.
Happy practicing.
zaffy
Senior Member
Polish
- Jun 24, 2021
- #15
Pedro y La Torre said:
If I'm just after playing* a rugby/soccer match, I will "take" a shower. If I have just gotten up though, I will "have" a shower.
What that proves, I do not know.
That's interesting. So what does either imply in BrE?
Last edited:
Pedro y La Torre
Senior Member
Île-de-France
English - Ireland
- Jun 24, 2021
- #16
I should note that "I'm after doing something" is used solely in Irish English (and I think Highland Scottish English too due to the influence of Scottish Gaelic) but British English speakers outside these areas would not understand what it means so it's best avoided.
As for take and have, these are purely personal preferences. I don't think it implies anything of substance to be honest.
A
abluter
Senior Member
British English
- Jul 9, 2021
- #17
To my British ear, "take a bath" and "take a shower" are unmistakably American locutions.
Wordy McWordface
Senior Member
SSBE (Standard Southern British English)
- Jul 9, 2021
- #18
abluter said:
To my British ear, "take a bath" and "take a shower" are unmistakably American locutions.
And with a name like that, you should know!
retjoun
Senior Member
Paris, France
Sesotho
- Jun 21, 2022
- #19
I've always had either of them. Have a shower and have a bath.
< French and topic drift removed. Cagey, moderator >
Last edited by a moderator:
RM1(SS)
Senior Member
Connecticut
English - US (Midwest)
- Jun 22, 2022
- #20
I always take both.
Except when I just go stand in the rain locker.
elroy
Moderator: EHL, Arabic, Hebrew, German(-Spanish)
Chicago, IL
US English, Palestinian Arabic bilingual
- Jun 22, 2022
- #21
RM1(SS) said:
I always take both.
Me too. Never “have.”
velisarius
Senior Member
Greece
British English (Sussex)
- Jun 22, 2022
- #22
The AE/BE difference has already been noted in this thread. (see post #10).
You must log in or register to reply here.
