Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[leslie]

Hi,

What does 'run the shower' mean? Does it mean to clean the bathtub by using the shower or fill with the water in the bathtub by showering or what else?

Thank you very mcuh!!

Leslie
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Less Is Blessed

[Suzanne]

Hi, Leslie,

If I'm understanding your question, "run the shower" means to turn on the water to take a shower. If you can tell me the sentence where you saw the phrase, that would be helpful.

Example: He likes to run the shower until all the hot water is used up.

You will also see "run a bath" or "run the washing machine" or "run a load of laundry." They all involve turning on the wather.

Examples:

I'm going to run a hot bath and soak, while I read my new book.
I'm going to run the washing machine before we go out.
I'm going to run a load of laundry before we go out.

Does that help?

[leslie]

Thank you first, Suzanne.

I heard that sentence when I was watching a sit-com, Mad About You.
The couple lying in bed, Jamie, the wife, tells her husband, Paul:Run the shower and make the coffee.

So, did you mean that 'run the shower' has several meanings according to the context? Thank you once again.

Leslie
_________________
Less Is Blessed

[Suzanne]

Thanks--this makes sense to a native speaker.

Jamie is telling Paul to "run the shower," meaning that it takes time for the water to get hot. By turning it on--or running it--the water will be not by the time she's ready to get in.