answer the call of nature

English

Etymology

From answer the call + call of nature in reference to a need to urinate or defecate.

Pronunciation

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Verb

answer the call of nature (third-person singular simple present answers the call of nature, present participle answering the call of nature, simple past and past participle answered the call of nature)

1. (idiomatic, euphemistic) To satisfy a bodily urge to urinate or defecate.
   • 1978 April 18, Charles Lynch, “Trudeau struts and frets”, in Ottawa Citizen, Canada, retrieved 3 Sept. 2010, page 7:

     Che [Guevara] jumped from his seat and rushed from the room, pursued by the entire press corps. Down the hall he went, and into the men's room where, surrounded by reporters, he proceeded to answer the call of nature, shouting: "Liberdad!"

   • 2007 July 24, “Europe's Highest Toilets Installed on Mont Blanc”, in Spiegel Online International, retrieved 3 Sept. 2010:

     Unfortunately mountain climbers, like everybody else, need to answer the call of nature, and there are few toilet facilities on mountains.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:defecate and Thesaurus:urinate

See also

• find a friendly bush