"Ready for take-off"
When requesting take-off clearance, I was taught never to use the words "take-off" unless reading back what the tower controller said. I'm out in Phoenix at the moment doing my flight training and I've heard the phrase "ready for take-off" used a few times.
Is this a US thing? I have to admit I got distracted today asking for the clearance and let it slip out myself, and since the controller didn't verbally slap my wrist I began to wonder. I'd have asked the instructor but forgot about it after take-off.
Cheers,
Dave.