counter check
- noun
- /ˈkaʊntər tʃɛk/
- Specialized
:
cheque en blanco
- She used a counter check to withdraw money before her regular checks arrived.
Examples
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When he forgot his checkbook, he requested a counter check from the bank teller.
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The bank only issues a counter check if you present valid identification.
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I received a counter check from the bank.
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Can I use a counter check for my withdrawal?
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She used a counter check to withdraw money before her regular checks arrived.
-
When he forgot his checkbook, he requested a counter check from the bank teller.
-
The bank only issues a counter check if you present valid identification.
Synonyms
1
3.7
A signed piece of paper from a bank with the amount left empty for someone to fill
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is partially compositional: 'check' (bank payment paper) combined with 'counter' (service desk) naturally suggests a check issued at the bank counter, which a B1 learner who knows both words could plausibly infer. However, the specific institutional sense — a blank/temporary check provided for immediate withdrawals — is a specialized banking usage not fully predictable from the parts, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The noun counter check comes from the bank counter, where a teller would write a simple check for a customer. Because it was made at the counter and used when regular checks were not available, the phrase means 'a simple bank check given at the bank for immediate use'.