Hi english learners and teachers.How do you as polite as possible but specifically say 'i want to shit or i’m shitting ’ ?.I need to ask this question because there was once when my friend was actually trying to advise me not to use the toilet bowl because it was clogged up,but it was too late and i left a big pile of my stinking excrement.
Here’s some examples i’ve come up with.Could someone enlighthen me please?.
1-I’m in the men’s room(But how will you know whether i’m taking a shower or brushing my teeth?).
2-I’m having a bowel movement.(Is this too formal?)
3-I’m in the toilet.
4-I’m defecating.
5-I’m dropping bombs.
Hello Wong, You’ve made me laugh so much with this question! I don’t know whether to take you seriously or not, but anyway:
Being in the men’s room or going to the men’s room is fine to use, even if it is not strictly a toilet for men (for example, a toilet in a private house which women might also use). It is widely known as a euphemism which will be understood to mean exactly what you want it to mean!
Yes. It is very formal. It would also be too much information in polite company.
Generally one to be avoided.
Probably one of the most frequently used phrases. It’s fine, though not quite as polite as ‘going to the men’s room’ or ‘going to the bathroom’ (which you could also use, even if there is no bath or shower in the room!)
Like number 2. Far too much information!
LOL. Best to avoid this one in polite company too!
If you use “Going to/in the men’s room”, Going to/in the bathroom" or “going to/in the toilet” then that will cover all those situations when you need to be polite.
It’s best just to say, “I’m relieving myself.” That could mean you are urinating or defecating, but it’s enough for people to get the idea. You could also just say, “I’m using the bathroom.” A woman would say, “I’m powdering my nose.” Sometimes men say that too, but it’s usually for comical effect.
If it’s really necessary to say specifically that you are defecating, Americans would say, “I am going Number 2.”
It’s really a pleasant day today! BTW, I found many American idioms including numbers, e.g., go No. 2, catch 22, etc. Could anyone tell me why go #2? I know about the latter but forgot about the former.
You might be right (in my first reply I said I wasn’t sure whether he was serious), but I thought someone might need to know that anyway!
It’s not the sort of thing that usually comes up.
Perhaps I can give purpose to a thread that may not have one. I was reading through a lot of the replies and noticed a trend. I went back to look at the rules for the forum, but I didn’t see anything about requisite qualifications for those that attempt to answer a question. Are there any?
It might have been better to start a new thread (perhaps in the feedback and comments section) for this question, Doc. It could easily be missed where it is.
I’m pretty new here, though I have been quite prolific (though that will change tomorrow when I go back to work after my short break). Here is my understanding, and I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong:
As this is a public forum, it is generally open to all to comment. Often learners can learn most from each other.
However, where there are continuous instances of misleading information being posted, the moderators might have a quiet word with the member concerned asking him/her to stop posting in a particular section of the forum because their English doesn’t yet appear to be up to providing accurate replies.
Ultimately, if that member doesn’t then comply, further action, including banning, takes place, though this is done reluctantly and rarely, as it does not usually get to that point.
I hope I’m right about that. I’m prepared to be corrected if necessary.
I’d say I agree with BN generally. Just one thing I would like to add is, if I may, that we learners should pay our respect to the teachers because they teach us free of charge. Especially, we should all pay our respect to the founders. We are all like guests in their home. But how much are we really aware of that? I am sure nobody would like their guests acting like or as a host in their homes. If we sincerely think about this, it would not be so difficult to imagine how the host would feel in case we don’t behave ourselves. Of course, I am among the worst as a guest.
Thank you, BN.