Free x Open Hi, there If you are at a gas station and there’s a line for almost every pump, except one, what could you say ? “Look, there’s no line for that pump”, “That pump is open”, “That pump i

Hernandez

Free x Open Hi, there If you are at a gas station and there’s a line for almost every pump, except one, what could you say ? “Look, there’s no line for that pump”, “That pump is open”, “That pump is free”? What could you say? What if I am at a supermarket and there is a checkout where there is no line? Should I say “Let’s go to that checkout TWO LANES OVER. It is OPEN” or “It is EMPTY” or “It is FREE”? What could I say? Free, open or empty”? Thank you!

Apr 8, 2020 4:11 PM

Corrections · 4

I think "free", "open", and "empty" are interchangeable and correct for gas pumps or checkout lines. It just depends on which one you prefer. Everyone will understand! In the States, the most popular option also changes, depending on which region/state you're in. So you can pick one or use them all. :)

April 9, 2020

"There's no line at that pump." "There's no wait at that pump." "That checkout line is open / empty."

April 8, 2020

But can you say “a checkout is open” when you mean there is no line at it?

April 8, 2020

Hi Hernandez. For your gas station question, you could say, "That pump is free/open." I've never heard people say that the pumps have lines. They're just occupied. For your supermarket question, any of those options are correct! I've heard it said all three ways. However, 'open' is probably the most common of the three.

April 8, 2020

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