# English folks, question about 'taking a wee' **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 18, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173 "2022-11-18T23:18:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/1 "2022-11-18T23:18:53Z")
We discovered BritBox about 6 moths ago and are loving the English programming. But one thing that stands out (to me at least) is how English girls/women are frequently proclaiming they have to have a wee. Girls of all ages seem to do this. It’s not rampant, of course, but I don’t hear the men talk about it and I don’t believe I remember American women talking about it as much, on TV anyway. Last night we were watching a program and a middle-aged women walked into a house and just blurted out, I need a wee. Is it a cultural thing or a difference in the language? Why not just say, may I use your restroom? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/2 "2022-11-18T23:24:00Z")
Because we don’t have “restrooms” and "bathrooms " are for bathing in. I also think that you refer to “women” and not “girls”. It’s simply a cultural difference. Live with it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/3 "2022-11-18T23:45:20Z")
I’m sure there are very refained ways for British ladies to indicate the need, but if you’re looking at comedy shows, they’re doing what they think is funny. Also, there is quite a range of (what we call) sitcom raunchiness you can see on BritBox, from Mrs. Brown’s Boys to Keeping Up Appearances. Not to mention the comedy panel shows, where the language can be pretty blue (and very very funny). ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/4 "2022-11-19T00:37:51Z")
I’m always struck by the way Americans _take_ what Brits _have_; they “have a look”, or a poo\*, or a thought, where we “take a look”, or a crap, or thought. They do, of course, take the piss; but it’s not at all the same thing as an American taking a piss. \*And I have no idea why they say “poo” and we say “poop”. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/5 "2022-11-19T00:45:06Z")
As opposed to Leonard’s mother announcing “I have to urinate?” Different cultures, different ways of announcing bodily functions. Pull my finger. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/6 "2022-11-19T00:46:12Z")
You take a poop? I usually leave one. ---
**Author:** ![Esturionette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9d8465/32.png) [@Esturionette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esturionette)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/7 "2022-11-19T01:16:28Z")
I think we should call it laying a poo. Like an egg. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/8 "2022-11-19T01:19:33Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > As opposed to Leonard’s mother announcing “I have to urinate?” Well, at least it’s not baby talk. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/9 "2022-11-19T02:03:02Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > It’s simply a cultural difference. Live with it. A little defensive there, are we Bob? 🙂 Never said I couldn’t live with it. > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > …but if you’re looking at comedy shows,… As much as I love British humor, we never watch comedies. Mostly detective shows are dramas. > [@silenus](#): > > Different cultures, different ways of announcing bodily functions. Yeah, I suppose. There’s just a lot of everyday things that TV shows mostly leave out, announcing ones need to urinate being one of them. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/10 "2022-11-19T02:37:36Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > As much as I love British humor, we never watch comedies. Mostly detective shows are dramas. Yeah, we have Acorn, and we mostly watch they mysteries and dramas – which we love. I’ve attempted a few comedies and most were dreadfully unfunny or lost in translation. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/11 "2022-11-19T02:42:28Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > > [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > > > As much as I love British humor, we never watch comedies. Mostly detective shows are dramas. > > Yeah, we have Acorn, and we mostly watch they mysteries and dramas – which we love. I’ve attempted a few comedies and most were dreadfully unfunny or lost in translation Oh, man. Try the comedy panel shows like _8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown_, or _Would I Lie To You_ or the late _Mock The Week_. If Lee Mack teasing David Mitchell, or Dara Ò Briain riffing with Ed Byrne, doesn’t crack you up, you might need a humor transplant. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/12 "2022-11-19T02:43:33Z")
What seems interesting to me about the OP is the fact that this apparently something primarily women do? Do men use a different term, e.g. “I need to take a piss”? ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/13 "2022-11-19T02:49:08Z")
I dunno what the typical jargon among men is. My only point of reference is a scene from _Children of Men_ (which takes place in Britain) and one man alerts the main character that they’ll be keeping their eye on him: _“'Cause we’ll be watching you. At work, when you sleep, **when you have a piss** , we’ll be watching.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/14 "2022-11-19T03:34:07Z")
I don’t know any adult who announces a need to perform any particular act. If they know where the facilities are, they just go without calling attention to it. If they need directions, they ask for the bathroom (in a residence) or the restroom (at a public place). ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/15 "2022-11-19T03:36:42Z")
[“I really do need to go to the toilet really badly, you know… Guys, guys, I’m just going to have to wee on Lord Snot’s head.”](https://youtu.be/ysG96dUtGh4?t=120) ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/16 "2022-11-19T03:39:21Z")
English men have a “slash” Aussie men “need a wee” At least in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/17 "2022-11-19T04:02:49Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I don’t know any adult who announces a need to perform any particular act. If they know where the facilities are, they just go without calling attention to it. Nor do I, In real life. My OP was about women doing in on British TV programs. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/18 "2022-11-19T06:59:10Z")
It depends entirely on which sort of character in which sort of programme. You wouldn’t hear it in an adaptation of a Jane Austen or a Dickens, or _Downton Abbey_. But you could well in a raucous comedy where the characters are family or friends. In real life, similarly different standards of politeness apply as between strangers and close friends and family. And, as noted, we have a different range of euphemism. We think “bathroom” and “restroom” are needlessly misleading (conveniently forgetting that “toilet” and “lavatory”’ and “WC” were originally equally euphemistic), but have settled on “loo” as a neutral/acceptable term. Those for whom that’s too overt would get by with a vague “Where’s the erm…” ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/19 "2022-11-19T13:39:43Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > They do, of course, take the piss; but it’s not at all the same thing as an American taking a piss. And if a Brit is pissed, it means they’re drunk, not angry (unless they’re an angry drunk). ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2022, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173/20 "2022-11-19T13:48:13Z")
Couple of data points. In [this British movie](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0366777/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) (a comedy/drama), a boy of about 9-10 at one point tells his caretaker, “I need a wee.” In _Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire_, Hermione (she would have been 14ish??) says, of using the bathroom that Moaning Myrtle haunts, “It’s awful having a pee in there…” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/english-folks-question-about-taking-a-wee/975173.md?page=2)