see a man about a horse en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
A variant of see a man about a dog, from the implied context of seeing someone about a bet on a horse race.
Meanings
-
(euphemistic, idiomatic) Used in place of a real explanation when excusing oneself for a short period of time, particularly to use a toilet.
I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail. I've just got to visit the ladies' room to see a man about a horse.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| saw a man about a horse | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| seen a man about a horse | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| seeing a man about a horse | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| sees a man about a horse | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Synonyms
use the toilet · and Thesaurus:defecate · a man about the plumbing (use the toilet) · a man (all senses) · a man about a dog (all senses) · urinate
Translations (1)
fr aller entretenir le duc d’Aumale (to leave to use the toilet)