get the bartender

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "get the bartender" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when requesting someone to summon or approach the bartender, typically in a social or dining context. Example: "If you need another drink, just get the bartender to refill your glass."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

But, fortunately, ESPN showed the ninth and I was able to get the bartender to turn it on.

The New York Times

The 22-year-old employee checked his Motorola shares every half-hour on his pager and periodically slipped out to the dining room to get the bartender to turn on CNBC.

The New York Times

WAVING your hand to get the bartender's attention may not be the only way to order a martini in crowded bars of the future — even if they're as busy as the cantina in "Star Wars".

The New York Times

— The Dalai Lama's Web site, reporting on his visit to New York last week BY now it was late and we were at Pastis and His Holiness was trying to get the bartender's attention.

The New York Times

Drop in there after work, and witness the sad sight of two attractive women shuffling back and forth on the periphery of the crowd, trying to get the bartender's attention.

The New York Times - Food

Her?" What I said now, though, was "Reset, reverse ten seconds," and everything stalled, vanished, and started up once more, and here I was trying all over again to get the bartender's attention and listening hard when Zach, leaning casually against the bar on two splayed elbows, opened his mouth to speak.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

According to Larry Plawsky Larry Plawsky, senior director of super premium brands at Fortune Brands ' Jim Beam, the producers of Vox, "We have to have cocktails that we develop that are exciting and get the bartenders enthusiastic so they have new cocktail creations to sell to their customers".

Forbes

He hopped up on a stool and got the bartender's attention.

The New York Times

A third ad displays a bottle of Van Gogh Blue next to this headline: "She who gets the bartender's number first wins.

The New York Times

To get the message across, the bartender, Billy Marx, 22, shut down the beer taps and covered the liquor bottles with dark plastic.

The New York Times

Get a friend to come and pick you up, have the bartender get you in a cab (alone), or better yet, bring a sober friend with you.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "get the bartender", ensure the context implies a need for the bartender's attention, whether for ordering, information, or assistance.

Common error

Avoid using "get the bartender" in highly formal settings; opt for more polite alternatives like "excuse me, bartender" or "could I speak with the bartender, please?".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "get the bartender" functions primarily as an imperative, used to request or instruct someone to summon or attract the attention of the bartender. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Reference

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "get the bartender" is a grammatically sound and commonly used way to ask someone to call over or attract the attention of the bartender. It is generally appropriate in informal settings but might be too direct for very formal environments. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Alternatives such as "call the bartender over" or "attract the bartender's attention" can be used for varied phrasing. Remember to consider the context and formality of the situation when choosing your words. The most frequent contexts are News & Media and Wiki, while Formal & Business and Science are less frequent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ask the bartender to come here

Direct request for the bartender to approach.

call the bartender over

Implies asking the bartender to come to your location.

attract the bartender's attention

Focuses on the act of gaining the bartender's notice.

catch the bartender's eye

Emphasizes visual contact to gain attention.

flag down the bartender

Implies a more active attempt to get the bartender's attention.

wave down the bartender

Involves waving to gain the bartender's attention

hail the bartender

Similar to 'flag down' but slightly more casual.

summon the bartender

Suggests a formal way to call the bartender.

alert the bartender

Suggests informing the bartender of your presence or need.

get service from the bartender

Focuses on receiving service, implying a request for attention.

FAQs

How can I politely "get the bartender" in a formal setting?

In a formal setting, it's best to use phrases like "Excuse me, bartender" or "Could I have your attention, please?" These options are more courteous than directly asking someone to "get the bartender".

What's a less direct way to say "get the bartender"?

Instead of "get the bartender", you could say "could you call the bartender" or "can you ask the bartender to come over" to be more indirect.

Is "get the bartender" appropriate in all situations?

While generally acceptable, "get the bartender" might be too informal for upscale or very formal environments. Consider the setting when choosing your words.

What are some alternative phrases to "get the bartender" for ordering a drink?

To order, you can try "I'd like to order a drink" or simply catch the bartender's eye and signal that you're ready to order. You could also use "may I have your attention".