Why Is It Called a Bar Tab? Understanding the Term and Its Origin
Discover the origin of the term 'bar tab' and what it signifies in social settings. Learn more about running accounts at bars.
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A bar tab refers to the running account of drinks or food consumed and paid for later. Historically, bars would keep a written tabulation (or 'tab') of the customer's orders to total at the end of the visit. The term signifies this tallying process.
FAQs & Answers
- What does a bar tab mean? A bar tab is a running account that tracks the drinks or food consumed at a bar, to be paid at a later time.
- How does a bar tab work? Bars keep a record of your orders, allowing you to pay for them all at once at the end of your visit.
- What is the history behind bar tabs? The term 'bar tab' comes from the practice of tallying a customer's order in writing for payment after they finish their visit.