There’s a restaurant here called Chai Pani and I never understood why they’d name themselves that (literally “tea water”), but then my Indian father-in-law explained to me what the term is actually used for. It’s used if someone wants you to bribe them. It’s kind of like asking for some money for coffee - “I need money for tea”.
There’s a restaurant here called Chai Pani and I never understood why they’d name themselves that (literally “tea water”), but then my Indian father-in-law explained to me what the term is actually used for. It’s used if someone wants you to bribe them. It’s kind of like asking for some money for coffee - “I need money for tea”.
I don’t know why, but in Lithuanian we call tip, literally “tea money” so it might be somehow related
German generalizes it even more to “Trinkgeld” -> drink money for tips.
Ich brauche trinkgeld, viel viel trinkgeld.
I’ve seen this used in a few New York based novels.
Back in the day, a new hat cost about $50.00. Giving someone a $50.00 bribe was ‘buying them a hat.’