Cool MateCourtesy vs Play on the house
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Courtesy
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Play on the house
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: CourtesyMost common: Courtesy
| Courtesy | Play on the house | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɜːtəsi/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɜːrtəsi/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pleɪ ɒn ðə haʊs//🇺🇸 //pleɪ ɑn ði haʊs// |
| Meaning | Kindness or polite behavior towards others. | Get something for free at a bar or restaurant. |
| Example | He showed great courtesy by holding the door open for everyone. | The drinks are play on the house tonight because we have a special event. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | great, unfailing, utmost, do somebody, have, show, with courtesy, courtesy to, a matter of courtesy | get play on the house, offer play on the house, enjoy play on the house |
| Antonyms | discourtesy, rudeness | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'courteous', which is an adjective., Incorrectly using 'courtesy' as a verb., Using 'courtesy' too frequently; it can sound over the top in casual conversations. | Used in formal settings, which sounds inappropriate., Confused with 'house rules', which has a different meaning., Assuming it applies outside restaurants or bars, where it may not be common. |
| Usage notes | Use 'courtesy' in both formal and informal settings to describe polite actions. It's not typically used in casual conversations and sounds more polished in formal writing. | This phrase is commonly used in restaurants or bars to indicate a complimentary item. It's informal and should generally not be used in formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Courtesy vs Play on the house
What's the difference between Courtesy and Play on the house?
Courtesy: Kindness or polite behavior towards others. Play on the house: Get something for free at a bar or restaurant.
Which is more formal: Courtesy and Play on the house?
Courtesy is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Courtesy and Play on the house?
Courtesy is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Courtesy: He showed great courtesy by holding the door open for everyone. Play on the house: The drinks are play on the house tonight because we have a special event.
Can I use Courtesy and Play on the house interchangeably?
Not always. Courtesy and Play on the house are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.