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Please?

Phrase

Meaning
Cincinnati 'come again?' — a calque of German 'bitte?'
Type
Phrase
Used in
Cincinnati, Ohio

What does “Please?” mean

In Cincinnati, 'Please?' on its own with a rising tone means 'I didn't catch that, could you repeat it?' It's a direct loan-translation of German 'bitte?' carried over by the city's heavy 19th-century German immigration, and it routinely trips up visitors who keep waiting for the rest of the sentence.

Where it's used

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