I saw a play last night, written by an English playwrite, in which several characters said they were going “to have a shower.” In the United States, of course, we would say " take a shower." Is “have a shower” the usual expression in the U. K.?
Yes. Both are common and interchangeable phrases.
We “have” showers in Canada, too. Do you really not hear this in the States? Maybe regionally?
Native Southern Californian. Both are used, but ‘take’ is more common.
Since your question has been answered can I hijack and ask if the English “do” sex? The protagonist from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time always said “doing” sex instead of having it but I don’t know if it was just one of his idiosyncrasies or if people actually say that over there.
I’ve never heard that one; it’s either ‘doing it’, ‘having sex’, or ‘having it off’. I’d put that down as one of the protagonist’s quirks.
Yes, apparently it is at 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam.
I thought the thread title was a comment on the dodgy state of English plumbing.
Grew up in the Washington DC area, lived in NC, and Ohio. Never heard “have a shower”, except from friends in England. This would be in 62 years.
And I thought it was a comment on the dodgy state of English hygiene.
Well, we certainly “have” a shower here in beautiful Carp, Ontario.
(From time to time… 
)
Of course you’re “having” a shower… Where would you “take” a shower? To the zoo?
No, it’s peculiar to the book.
But of course! How else are we going to stop those damn dirty apes?
It’s definitely one of his quirks, and to me it emphasises his lack of emotional connectedness to everything - even sex. Just IMHO.
Note to self: address OP when possible.
I have always had showers and will always have showers. I’m from India, FWIW. Funnily enough, I think the English take baths, even though they have showers. Maybe the apes at the zoo are fussy.
I had to think about it, but I believe I “have” and “take” showers pretty interchangably. (West Coast Canuck here.)
Oh, and no showers at our zoo. Into the washtub with 'em!
I always say “have a bath/shower”. Saying “take a bath” sounds southern to my ears.
Is that “southern” as in Brighton or Atlanta?
To the same place you take a shit.