Let’s say you’re meeting a friend for dinner, and they’re 15 minutes late.
“Why were you late?” you ask.
They respond “Oh, I was laying some pipe and ended up running late.”
So what was he doing? Taking a poop, or having sex?
I’ve always heard that to mean pooping, but my husband has heard it to mean having sex. Fortunately, we addressed this before it came out organically and led to a zany misunderstanding…
SEX
Laying pipe: sexing
Laying cable: pooping
Sex, for sure. Or plumbing. 
I’ve led a sheltered life. I would think he or she had been laying actual pipe, perhaps for a field irrigation project. No doubt zany misunderstandings would have ensued :D.
Actually installing pipe? I don’t think I have heard this in any other context. Maybe I have too many DIY friends?
That’s a new one to me (for anything other than plumbing, that is.)
I like it, though. I’d probably use it more for pooping than for sex – perhaps just because the former happens more often
Good timing – it’s time for me to retire the ol’ “dropping the kids off at the pool”.
In Arthur Hailey’s * Wheels * the definition “having sex” is explicitly mentioned (set in Detroit, 60s or 70s).
Likewise.
Agreed.
I too have lived a sheltered life and have never heard “laying pipe” to mean anything besides literally doing something with real actual pipes.
Count me among those who would have thought they were actually doing some plumbing. I have never heard it used any other way.
Poll would be enhanced with a “both” button.
Count me as not familiar with the reference, though age and location may be relevant (mid-40’s; N/E USA). There is a lot of regional difference in phrases like this (bottle of pop/soda/coke, etc.)
Where are you from Sateryn76?
btw, I would have guessed sex; not really sure why…
I’m 35 from NW Indiana.
And, I suppose I should have added that the friend waggled his eyebrows as he said it, since, yeah, I probably would have assumed he was actually doing some plumbing at the time as well.
Laying pipe all night long, to satisfy that woman.
Putting PVC below the frost line in a trench. But now I am glad to have the misunderstanding cleared up.
Another vote for both
I’ve only heard it for sex.
You know what’s hilarious? The drain-unclogging product called “Foaming Pipe Snake”. I’m so mature, I know.
Ewww. Do you have any actual kids??
Yup same here. I never ever would have known until I read this thread that it could refer to anything other than actually installing pipes!