# Seeing a man about a dog ... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898 "2013-05-09T16:09:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/41 "2013-05-10T18:02:45Z")
I’ve read both, but never actually heard either used. For what it’s worth, and since we seem to be visiting the euphemism, anyway, “Ode to the Four Letter Words” dates back to at least the 1940s and offers this verse: > [@](#): > > When Nature is calling, plain speaking is out, > When ladies (God bless 'em) are smiling about, > You may wee wee, make water, or empty the glass; > You can powder your nose–even "Johnny " may pass; > Shake the dew off the lily, see the man about a dog, > Or, when everyone’s drunk, it’s condensing the fog, > But be pleased to remember, if you would know bliss, > That only in Shakespeare do characters piss. That suggests the “dog” version was at least applicable, if not particular, to urination at that point. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/42 "2013-05-10T18:07:35Z")
Horse. Or: “I’ve gotta drain my lizard.” ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/43 "2013-05-10T18:08:24Z")
I have to go return some videotapes. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/44 "2013-05-10T19:40:32Z")
These all mean I’m headed to the restroom: “… to see a man about a horse.” “… to shake the weasel.” “… to shake the hand of Abraham Lincoln.” ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/45 "2013-05-10T21:38:47Z")
> **[See a man about a dog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/See_a_man_about_a_dog)** > > To see a man about a dog or horse or duck is an idiom, especially British, of apology for one's imminent departure or absence, generally to euphemistically conceal one's true purpose, such as going to use the toilet or going to buy a drink. The original non-facetious meaning was probably to place or settle a bet on a race, perhaps accompanied by a wink. In the UK the phrase is generally used nowadays as a polite way of saying, "I am going out (or "have been out"), but don't ask where," often with... Wikipedia says “dog” was first (and samclem’s cite agrees). It also says “The original non-facetious meaning was probably to place or settle a bet on a race, thus dogs or horses”. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/46 "2013-05-10T21:47:14Z")
I’ve never heard anyone use either version of the phrase except myself, and I’m pretty sure I learned it from the Dope. And when I did use it, it was at my old job as a fast food manager, as a way of telling the shift manager “I’m making a bank run, but for security purposes I’m not supposed to say I’m making a bank run”. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/47 "2013-05-11T00:12:55Z")
“Horse” here. Never heard the “dog” variation, to my knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@Baron\_Skinley\_Von\_Clipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Skinley_Von_Clipper)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/48 "2013-05-11T00:51:10Z")
In the UK, the phrase “I’m going to see a man about a dog” means " Ive got things to do and I don’t need to tell you about it". Exactly as the OP said. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/49 "2013-05-11T12:50:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I knew a Texan who always said “he had to see a man about a dog” whenever he headed to the bathroom. > > He was the _only_ person I ever heard say this, and nobody ever knew what he meant. That’s what I mean when I say it. The only thing I mean. I’m from Philly and have been in Texas only a couple times. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/50 "2013-05-11T13:25:35Z")
In the late Forties, Ralph Moody began writing a book called **Little Britches.** It was set in Colorado, I believe. I didn’t hear of it until about the mid 1950’s. The father in the story used the expression, “I’m going to see a man about a dog.” He was actually going to give the principal a piece of his mind about how his son had been treated by the principal at school. His use of the phrase was a way of saying, “I’m not telling where I’m going nor why.” That’s the only way I’ve heard the expression used. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/51 "2013-05-11T13:52:59Z")
Horse, always. I use that myself, regularly. Dog - never heard that used. There’s also: I’m taking the Cleveland Browns to the Super Bowl. Happens every day. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/52 "2013-05-11T15:01:26Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > “… to shake the hand of Abraham Lincoln.” Say what? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/53 "2013-05-11T17:17:05Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Say what? 😕 Yeah, I was wondering about that one, too. I wonder if it comes from the Confederates…? ---
**Author:** ![EatTheSun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@EatTheSun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EatTheSun)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898/54 "2013-05-11T17:31:14Z")
Also in Atlanta, also always heard horse. I’ll third the American Psycho video tapes quote as my personal favorite. I see I was ninja’d on “Gotta take the Browns to the Super Bowl”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeing-a-man-about-a-dog/657898.md?page=2)