Do something for me or do something for us?

[zimbrul]

I've moved to another company and one of my colleagues say "can you check this for us?" and I'm a little bit confused as I was expecting to say to check something for him as is his work (not a collective piece of work). For me "us" sounds like more than one people... Is there something that I'm missing here?

 

[Tdol]

It's a common usage, certainly in BrE. I think using us rather than me may sound less direct and demanding.

 

[Dan Vanderheiden]

It is pretty common in American English, too. Same meaning.