I want to go for a piss?

[user_gary]

Which expression do we use in spoken English if we want to go for the number one?

Do we say, "I want to go for a piss"?

I will be glad if you provide all the possibilities for the expression.

[Red5]

I'd just say something like ""I want to go to the toilet". 'Piss' is rather vulgar.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Red5

... 'Piss' is rather vulgar.

A term my father, a French Canadian, was rather fond of, and one that my sisters and I used, up until we were old enough to know better.

My uncle, Anglo-Canadian, prefers, "I need to wring out my sock" (vulgar) and "I need to see a man about a horse." (vulgar?)

Here's a safe one, "I'll be back in a moment." No mention of where you are going or what you need to do. Pretty safe.

[BobK]

A euphemism that I rather like is a literary one (Shakespeare - in the mouth of a rather rustic character - Autolycus - so possibly vulgar at the time):

"I will but look upon the hedge and follow thee."

Like "I'll be back in a moment" this avoids saying anything about what the speaker is going to do. A modernized version might be 'You go ahead; I'll catch you up.'

b