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Asian English
Chope
Used when reserving seats in busy hawker centers with tissues.
Literal Meaning
To chop off or cut; to reserve or book
Actual Meaning
Singaporean term for reserving something, especially hawker center seats with tissue packets
Examples in Context

Go chope table first while I line up for the chicken rice.

Go chope table first

I chope the seat already, so we can sit there when we get our food.

I chope the seat already

If you want to eat here, you better chope quickly before it gets crowded.

Helpful Tips
  • 1Putting tissue packet on table = seat reserved
  • 2It’s common in Singapore to reserve a seat using a tissue packet, so don’t be surprised if you see this happening at busy food courts.
  • 3When someone says they ‘chope’ a seat, it usually means they have a claim to that spot, even if they aren’t physically there yet.
  • 4Be aware of the unwritten rule: it’s generally frowned upon to take someone else's chope-d seat unless you ask first.
Phrase Thesaurus
Similar words and synonyms for this phrase
reserve
hold a spot
claim
set aside
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