Idioms for pooping are special phrases that mean something different from what the words say on their own. People use them to make their speaking and writing more colorful, descriptive, and fun. In this guide, you will learn many popular expressions that describe going to the bathroom, using the restroom, and bodily functions.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms that mean visiting the restroom, using the bathroom, and answering nature’s call. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Pooping
1. Answer nature’s call
Meaning: Needing to visit the restroom to handle a bodily necessity.
For Example: During our long car ride, the little boy announced he needed to answer nature’s call. / She paused her video game briefly to answer nature’s call.
Other Ways to Say: Visit the restroom / Go to the bathroom
2. Powder your nose
Meaning: A polite expression used mainly to say you are going to the ladies’ room.
For Example: Before heading into the restaurant, she excused herself to powder her nose. / The guest asked where she could go to powder her nose.
Other Ways to Say: Use the restroom / Freshen up
3. Spend a penny
Meaning: An old-fashioned British expression meaning to use a public restroom.
For Example: Grandpa stopped at the station kiosk because he needed to spend a penny. / Before boarding the train, we lined up to spend a penny.
Other Ways to Say: Use the toilet / Visit the washroom
4. Visit the little girls’ room
Meaning: A polite phrase used by females to indicate they are going to the restroom.
For Example: The young girl raised her hand to ask if she could visit the little girls’ room. / She stepped away from the table to visit the little girls’ room.
Other Ways to Say: Go to the restroom / Use the ladies’ room
5. Visit the little boys’ room
Meaning: A polite phrase used by males to indicate they are going to the restroom.
For Example: The little boy asked his mother if he could visit the little boys’ room during the movie. / He excused himself briefly to visit the little boys’ room.
Other Ways to Say: Go to the restroom / Use the men’s room
6. Relieve yourself
Meaning: A polite medical or formal way to describe going to the bathroom.
For Example: The hiking guide reminded everyone to relieve yourself before hitting the steep trail. / Animals and humans both need to find a private spot to relieve yourself.
Other Ways to Say: Use the restroom / Empty your bladder or bowels
7. Do your business
Meaning: A casual or child-friendly phrase for using the toilet in private.
For Example: The puppy was trained to go outside in the yard to do its business. / Make sure to wash your hands after you do your business in the bathroom.
Other Ways to Say: Use the bathroom / Go to the toilet
8. Drop the kids off at the pool
Meaning: A humorous slang expression for having a bowel movement.
For Example: He joked with his brother that he needed to drop the kids off at the pool before dinner. / After eating a big meal, he hurried off to drop the kids off at the pool.
Other Ways to Say: Have a bowel movement / Use the toilet
9. Pinch a loaf
Meaning: A crude slang expression meaning to pass a solid bowel movement.
For Example: He muttered that he needed to pinch a loaf before we left the house. / The camper stepped behind a tree to pinch a loaf in privacy.
Other Ways to Say: Defecate / Have a bowel movement
10. Lay a cable
Meaning: A humorous slang phrase describing the act of producing solid waste.
For Example: The construction worker joked that he needed to lay a cable during the break. / He rushed to the gas station restroom to lay a cable.
Other Ways to Say: Defecate / Use the toilet
11. Drop a deuce
Meaning: A slang term originating from dice games used to mean having a bowel movement.
For Example: After finishing his morning coffee, he headed upstairs to drop a deuce. / The teenager joked about needing to drop a deuce before basketball practice.
Other Ways to Say: Poop / Have a bowel movement
12. Make a deposit
Meaning: A humorous metaphor comparing leaving waste in a toilet to banking.
For Example: He laughed as he walked into the restroom to make a deposit. / The hiker found a bush to make a deposit in the woods.
Other Ways to Say: Defecate / Leave waste
13. Pass stool
Meaning: A clinical, medical term used by doctors for having a bowel movement.
For Example: The pediatrician asked if the infant could pass stool normally. / Eating fiber helps your body pass stool easily.
Other Ways to Say: Have a bowel movement / Defecate
14. Move your bowels
Meaning: A standard medical expression describing the elimination of body waste.
For Example: Drinking warm water in the morning can help move your bowels. / The nurse checked if the patient was able to move your bowels today.
Other Ways to Say: Defecate / Clear waste
15. Evacuate your bowels
Meaning: A formal or clinical description of emptying waste from the body.
For Example: Medical charts often ask patients if they can safely evacuate your bowels. / The doctor explained how digestion works to evacuate your bowels.
Other Ways to Say: Clear your bowels / Empty waste
16. Go number two
Meaning: A common child-friendly phrase used to distinguish defecation from urination.
For Example: The toddler learned to tell his parents when he needed to go number two. / The teacher helped the student who needed to go number two during class.
Other Ways to Say: Poop / Use the toilet for a bowel movement
17. Empty your bowels
Meaning: A direct physiological description of passing solid waste.
For Example: The body naturally signals when it is time to empty your bowels. / Eating healthy foods helps you empty your bowels comfortably.
Other Ways to Say: Defecate / Pass stool
18. Ease nature’s pressure
Meaning: A descriptive phrase for finding relief by visiting the restroom.
For Example: He hurried down the hallway to ease nature’s pressure before the test. / Finding a clean restroom helps ease nature’s pressure quickly.
Other Ways toSay: Find relief / Use the bathroom
19. Take a dump
Meaning: A common vulgar slang term used colloquially for defecation.
For Example: He stopped talking abruptly and said he needed to take a dump. / The man ran into the gas station to take a dump.
Other Ways to Say: Poop / Defecate
20. Shit
Meaning: A very common, highly informal, and vulgar slang term for feces and defecation.
For Example: He complained that his stomach hurt and he needed to shit. / The public restroom smelled terrible after someone went in to shit.
Other Ways to Say: Poop / Defecate
21. Crap
Meaning: A common informal slang term for feces or the act of defecating.
For Example: The dog stopped on the grass to crap during our walk. / He rushed to the indoor plumbing because he needed to crap.
Other Ways to Say: Poop / Defecate
22. Poop
Meaning: The standard, friendly everyday word used especially with children for defecation.
For Example: The puppy made a little poop on the training pad. / The little girl told her dad she needed to poop.
Other Ways to Say: Pass waste / Go number two
23. Do a number two
Meaning: An alternative phrasing of the child-friendly bathroom term.
For Example: The camp counselor reminded the kids to do a number two before the hike. / He raised his hand to say he needed to do a number two.
Other Ways to Say: Poop / Use the toilet
24. Clear the pipes
Meaning: A humorous slang phrase comparing human digestion to plumbing.
For Example: After drinking morning juice, he joked that he needed to clear the pipes. / Eating spicy food always helps clear the pipes quickly.
Other Ways to Say: Use the bathroom / Have a bowel movement
25. Unload cargo
Meaning: A playful metaphor comparing waste elimination to unloading a ship or truck.
For Example: The truck driver joked that he needed to unload cargo at the rest stop. / After eating a heavy lunch, he rushed to unload cargo.
Other Ways to Say: Empty waste / Defecate
26. Drop a log
Meaning: A crude slang expression for passing a large solid stool.
For Example: He laughed and said he was going to drop a log in the toilet. / The camper disappeared behind a tree to drop a log.
Other Ways to Say: Poop / Defecate
27. Squat and push
Meaning: A literal description of the physical posture and action used when pooping outdoors or in certain toilets.
For Example: Without modern plumbing, hikers have to squat and push in the woods. / The toddler learned how to squat and push on the training potty.
Other Ways to Say: Defecate / Strain to pass waste
28. Visit the porcelain throne
Meaning: A humorous metaphor referring to sitting on a flush toilet.
For Example: He spent twenty minutes on his phone visiting the porcelain throne. / After eating bad tacos, he rushed to visit the porcelain throne.
Other Ways to Say: Sit on the toilet / Use the bathroom
29. Sit on the pot
Meaning: An informal expression meaning sitting down on a toilet seat.
For Example: The toddler learned to sit on the pot during potty training week. / He sat on the pot reading a magazine for a long time.
Other Ways to Say: Use the toilet / Sit on the commode
30. Use the washroom
Meaning: A polite North American term for going to a public or home bathroom.
For Example: She asked the store clerk where she could use the washroom. / Make sure to wash your hands after you use the washroom.
Other Ways to Say: Visit the restroom / Use the bathroom
31. Use the restroom
Meaning: A standard polite American phrase for visiting a bathroom facility.
For Example: The teacher allowed the student to leave the room to use the restroom. / We stopped at the diner so everyone could use the restroom.
Other Ways to Say: Go to the bathroom / Visit the washroom
32. Use the loo
Meaning: A common British and Irish slang term for visiting the toilet.
For Example: He asked where he could find the loo during the party. / She excused herself politely to use the loo.
Other Ways to Say: Use the bathroom / Visit the toilet
33. Go to the bathroom
Meaning: The most common polite everyday phrase for visiting the toilet.
For Example: May I please go to the bathroom during class? / The child asked his mother if he could go to the bathroom.
Other Ways to Say: Use the restroom / Visit the toilet
34. Go to the lavatory
Meaning: A formal or slightly old-fashioned term for visiting a bathroom.
For Example: Passengers on the airplane walked down the aisle to go to the lavatory. / The hotel guest asked where to find the main floor lavatory.
Other Ways to Say: Use the restroom / Visit the washroom
35. Go to the WC
Meaning: An abbreviation for water closet used commonly in hotels and public maps.
For Example: The museum map pointed tourists toward the location of the WC. / He looked for the sign marked WC near the cafe entrance.
Other Ways to Say: Find the toilet / Locate the restroom
36. Visit the ladies’ room
Meaning: A polite expression used by women to specify going to their restroom.
For Example: She stood up from the dinner table to visit the ladies’ room. / The restaurant sign pointed toward the ladies’ room down the hall.
Other Ways to Say: Go to the women’s restroom / Use the ladies’ room
37. Visit the men’s room
Meaning: A polite expression used by men to specify going to their restroom.
For Example: He checked his tie in the mirror outside the men’s room. / The sign directed guests down the hall to the men’s room.
Other Ways to Say: Go to the men’s restroom / Use the gents
38. Use the commode
Meaning: A slightly clinical or traditional term for sitting on a toilet fixture.
For Example: The plumber installed a brand new commode in the upstairs bathroom. / The patient needed assistance to use the commode safely.
Other Ways to Say: Sit on the toilet / Use the bathroom
39. Relieve pressure
Meaning: A medical or physical description of releasing bodily waste.
For Example: Stopping at the rest stop allowed him to relieve pressure after hours of driving. / The body signals when you need to relieve pressure.
Other Ways to Say: Empty waste / Use the bathroom
40. Defecate
Meaning: The exact scientific and medical term for discharging feces from the body.
For Example: All mammals must eat, digest food, and defecate to survive. / The biology textbook explained how intestines process food before organisms defecate.
Other Ways to Say: Poop / Have a bowel movement
41. Pass feces
Meaning: A formal medical phrase used to describe excreting solid waste.
For Example: The doctor asked if the patient experienced pain when trying to pass feces. / Digestion breaks down food so the body can safely pass feces.
Other Ways to Say: Defecate / Have a bowel movement
42. Move waste
Meaning: A general biological description of processing and eliminating food remains.
For Example: Fiber-rich foods help your digestive system move waste smoothly. / The human body is designed to digest nutrients and move waste daily.
Other Ways to Say: Eliminate waste / Clear digestion
43. Go to the john
Meaning: An informal American slang expression for visiting the toilet.
For Example: He got up from the couch to go to the john during the commercial. / The gas station attendant pointed out where to go to the john.
Other Ways to Say: Use the bathroom / Visit the restroom
44. Go to the bog
Meaning: A British slang term meaning to visit the toilet or restroom.
For Example: He excused himself from the dinner table to go to the bog. / The pub had a sign pointing patrons toward the bog.
Other Ways to Say: Use the loo / Visit the restroom
45. Answer the call of nature
Meaning: A classic idiomatic expression for attending to basic bodily needs.
For Example: During the middle of the hike, he had to stop to answer the call of nature. / Every living creature eventually needs to answer the call of nature.
Other Ways to Say: Go to the bathroom / Visit the restroom
46. Drop anchor
Meaning: A humorous nautical metaphor for stopping to use the bathroom.
For Example: The sailor joked that he needed to drop anchor in the marina restroom. / After hours of sailing, he hurried ashore to drop anchor.
Other Ways to Say: Stop to use the toilet / Pause for bathroom break
47. Lay a foundation stone
Meaning: A humorous slang metaphor comparing passing a large stool to construction.
For Example: He joked that he needed five minutes to lay a foundation stone in the bathroom. / After eating heavy chili, he hurried off to lay a foundation stone.
Other Ways to Say: Have a bowel movement / Poop
48. Squeeze a brown one
Meaning: A crude slang expression for producing a bowel movement.
For Example: He made a crude joke about needing to squeeze a brown one before leaving. / The worker rushed to the site porta-potty to squeeze a brown one.
Other Ways to Say: Poop / Defecate
49. Push a turtle out
Meaning: A crude slang idiom describing the feeling of a bowel movement emerging.
For Example: He whispered to his friend that he felt like he was trying to push a turtle out. / Eating bad seafood made him feel like he had to push a turtle out fast.
Other Ways to Say: Defecate / Pass a stool
50. Post a letter
Meaning: An old British slang euphemism for dropping waste into a toilet.
For Example: He excused himself from the drawing room to go post a letter. / The old gentleman joked that he needed to post a letter downstairs.
Other Ways to Say: Use the toilet / Defecate
51. Make a turtle head
Meaning: A slang expression describing stool appearing at the rectum.
For Example: He panicked in traffic because he felt like he was making a turtle head. / The runner sprinted toward the porta-potty because he was making a turtle head.
Other Ways to Say: Feel an urgent need to poop / Rush to the toilet
52. Drop off the kids
Meaning: A shortened slang variation of dropping waste off into a toilet bowl.
For Example: He told his friends he needed to drop off the kids at the house. / After drinking coffee, he ran upstairs to drop off the kids.
Other Ways to Say: Poop / Use the toilet
53. Go to the powder room
Meaning: A polite term used in restaurants and homes for the women’s restroom.
For Example: The hostess invited guests to use the coat rack and go to the powder room. / She stepped away from the party to go to the powder room.
Other Ways to Say: Use the ladies’ room / Visit the restroom
54. Relieve nature
Meaning: A slightly archaic phrasing for attending to bodily waste elimination.
For Example: The weary travelers stopped by the roadside bush to relieve nature. / Animals in the wild naturally stop to relieve nature.
Other Ways to Say: Use the bathroom / Defecate
55. Clear the bowels
Meaning: A direct physiological description of passing stored waste.
For Example: Drinking herbal tea in the morning can help clear the bowels. / The medical procedure required the patient to clear the bowels beforehand.
Other Ways to Say: Have a bowel movement / Pass stool
56. Pay a visit to the throne room
Meaning: A humorous metaphorical way to describe sitting on a toilet.
For Example: He grabbed his comic book and went to pay a visit to the throne room. / After drinking soda, she had to pay a visit to the throne room.
Other Ways to Say: Use the toilet / Sit on the commode
57. Go take a crap
Meaning: A direct, informal, and somewhat rough command or statement about pooping.
For Example: He slammed his book shut and announced he had to go take a crap. / The annoyed brother told him to go take a crap and quit complaining.
Other Ways to Say: Go poop / Defecate
58. Take a morning constitutional
Meaning: A humorous old-fashioned expression for a morning walk combined with bathroom time.
For Example: Grandpa went out for his morning coffee and his morning constitutional. / After waking up, he took his time reading the paper during his morning constitutional.
Other Ways to Say: Morning bathroom routine / Morning walk and toilet trip
59. Drop anchor in port
Meaning: A nautical metaphor for finding a toilet and relieving yourself.
For Example: The sailor rushed down the ship corridor to drop anchor in port. / He needed a rest stop to drop anchor in port urgently.
Other Ways to Say: Use the restroom / Find a toilet
60. Answer the call
Meaning: A shortened version of responding to the body’s natural waste urges.
For Example: When nature speaks, you simply have to answer the call. / He excused himself from the meeting to answer the call.
Other Ways to Say: Use the restroom / Visit the bathroom
Exercise to Practice
- During our long car ride, the little boy announced he needed to ________ nature’s call.
- Before heading into the restaurant, she excused herself to ________ her nose.
- Grandpa stopped at the station kiosk because he needed to ________ a penny.
- The puppy was trained to go outside in the yard to do its ________.
- He hurried down the hallway to ease ________ pressure before the test.
- All mammals must eat, digest food, and ________ to survive.
- May I please go to the ________ during class?
- The child asked his mother if he could go to the ________.
- Passengers on the airplane walked down the aisle to go to the ________.
- The museum map pointed tourists toward the location of the ________.
- He checked his tie in the mirror outside the ________ room.
- The plumber installed a brand new ________ in the upstairs bathroom.
- During the middle of the hike, he had to stop to answer the ________ of nature.
- He grabbed his comic book and went to pay a visit to the ________ room.
- When nature speaks, you simply have to ________ the call.
Answer Key
- answer
- powder
- spend
- business
- nature’s
- defecate
- bathroom
- bathroom
- lavatory
- WC
- men’s
- commode
- call
- throne
- answer
Conclusion
Learning idioms for pooping is a fun way to explore the many creative, polite, and funny ways people talk about using the restroom. These expressions help make everyday conversations, stories, and humorous writing more colorful and relatable.
Try using a few of these helpful phrases the next time you need to make a polite excuse or tell a funny story. Incorporating these expressions into your daily language will boost your communication skills and help your writing shine!
