caught short

English

Etymology

Compare French prendre de court.

Adjective

caught short (not comparable)

1. (euphemistic) Needing to use the toilet at a point where no toilet facilities are available.

   Synonym: taken short

   • 2009, Colin Cox, Short Hops Across the Atlantic, page 174:

     Some clever person came up with the apt name of little John (or big John for the optimist) for a suitably shaped container for those who were caught short.