# Prior To Plumbing, What Were The (American English) Euphemisms For Urination/Defecation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 13, 2022, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prior-to-plumbing-what-were-the-american-english-euphemisms-for-urination-defecation/967904 "2022-07-13T21:30:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prior-to-plumbing-what-were-the-american-english-euphemisms-for-urination-defecation/967904/21 "2022-07-18T00:39:38Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ROL_GWbMsmg/maxresdefault.jpg "Kay Armen - The Tinkle Song (1951)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROL_GWbMsmg) ---
**Author:** ![Versicle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c2a13f/32.png) [@Versicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Versicle)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2022, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prior-to-plumbing-what-were-the-american-english-euphemisms-for-urination-defecation/967904/22 "2022-07-18T07:30:12Z")
It [is said that](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/cover_one%27s_feet) the biblical phrase directly translated as “cover one’s feet” is such a euphemism. Judges 3:24 and 1 Samuel 24:3. I don’t think this was ever in wide currency as a euphemism, except perhaps jocularly. ---
**Author:** ![Bayarea4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Bayarea4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayarea4)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prior-to-plumbing-what-were-the-american-english-euphemisms-for-urination-defecation/967904/23 "2022-07-21T03:38:12Z")
When my father needed to stop at a gas station during long road trips, he would say “I need to sharpen my skates.” That might be a Midwestern thing as he was born in rural Kansas in 1913. I’ve never heard anyone else say it, ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2022, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prior-to-plumbing-what-were-the-american-english-euphemisms-for-urination-defecation/967904/24 "2022-07-21T11:35:46Z")
Down South we always used “I got to go see a man about a horse” when telling others we need to go to the restroom. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prior-to-plumbing-what-were-the-american-english-euphemisms-for-urination-defecation/967904/25 "2022-08-02T00:14:23Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Down South we always used “I got to go see a man about a horse” when telling others we need to go to the restroom . Nice one. I couldn’t use that where I live right now, though. My landlady actually owns two horses who live on the property. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prior-to-plumbing-what-were-the-american-english-euphemisms-for-urination-defecation/967904/26 "2022-08-02T07:24:39Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > and the lawman says he’s “[something something] his morning constitutional,” which I took to mean he was taking his morning dump. It’s possible it was a euphemism in this occasion, but “taking a constitutional” usually means going for a healthy walk. > **[Taking a Constitutional Walk](https://www.walkingoffthebigapple.com/2011/01/taking-constitutional-walk.html)** > > Active from July 2007 to April 2021. Walks in New York City and Hudson Valley with guides, maps, travel directions, and cultural commentary. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2022, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prior-to-plumbing-what-were-the-american-english-euphemisms-for-urination-defecation/967904/27 "2022-08-02T07:48:21Z")
Indeed, some people go for a nice walk in the morning—not a myth! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prior-to-plumbing-what-were-the-american-english-euphemisms-for-urination-defecation/967904.md?page=1)