Bath / bathe / swim / sunbathe
When you wash yourself you can say that you bath (British English, rather old-fashioned) or bathe (North American English), but it is much more common to say have a bath (British English) or take a bath (North American English). You can also bath (British English) or bathe (North American English) another person, for example a baby. Other examples: It's your turn to bath the baby. We moved into this house in September and I yet to have a bath! How Often Should a Baby Have a Bath? A bath should be taken in hot water, but not scalding. You bathe a part of your body, especially to clean a wound. The act of swimming in the sea, a river, etc can be expressed formally in British English in the following context: John is not working on the afternoon of 17th October and, low tide or not, he is determined to go for a bathe. When you go swimming it is old-fashioned to say that you bathe, and you cannot say that you bath or take a bath. It is more common to swim, go for a swim, have a swim or go swimming: Let's go for a quick swim in the pool. She goes swimming every morning before breakfast. What you wear for this activity is usually called a swimming costume in British English and a bathing suit in North American English. When you lie in the sun in order to go brown (get a suntan, not a sunburn** having painful red skin**) you sunbathe. We spent the day sunbathing and swimming. Note : To take a bath in North American English is also an idiom which means losing money on a business agreement. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "English Learner's Cafe" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/english_learners?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
