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[travel] Maybe this is a hold-up. Maybe you should give me your money.
A lot of people here have been taught to speak very polite English. This has led to some interesting mistranslations.
Hotel clerk: “Maybe I want your passport.” (I assume he meant to say “May I have your passport” It's common for cheapeer hotels to hold your passport hostage until you pay, though shadier hotels will hold it hostage for other reasons ).
Me: “Maybe not.”
Hotel clerk: “Then maybe you want to pay me now?”
Well, when you put it like that...
Hotel clerk: “Maybe I want your passport.” (I assume he meant to say “May I have your passport” It's common for cheapeer hotels to hold your passport hostage until you pay, though shadier hotels will hold it hostage for other reasons ).
Me: “Maybe not.”
Hotel clerk: “Then maybe you want to pay me now?”
Well, when you put it like that...