(COULD I) BUY YOU A DRINK?

(Could I) buy you a drink?: translation

1. Lit. Could I purchase a drink for you? (An offer by one person—usually in a bar—to buy a drink for another. Then the two will drink together. Also used with

can

or

may

in place of

could

.) •

When Sally and Mary met at the agreed time in the hotel bar, Sally said to Mary, “Could I buy you a drink?”

2. Fig. Could I make you a drink? (A slightly humorous way of offering to prepare and serve someone a drink, as in one's home. Also used with

can

or

may

in place of

could

.) •

Bill: Come in, Fred. Can I buy you a drink? I've got wine and beer. Fred: Great. A beer would be fine, thanks.