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Taking a ...

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NewHope

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Context:
"Go to sleep,"Monkey replied, "I'm taking a shit" The monster did as he was told. Monkey sighed and said, "What terrible luck."
"Why are you so fed up about?" the monster asked. "What do you mean by 'terrible luck'? I may have eaten some food and drunk some tea since marrying you. But I've not been idle either. I've swept for your family and dug ditches, I've shifted bricks and tiles..."

(1)"Taking a shit" = (Slang) going to toilet?
(2) Do you think the usage "sweep" in "I've swept your family" is proper? Does the usage is the same as in the sweep in "sweep a chimney"?
 

Tdol

Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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1- Yes, though 'having' is probably more common in BE.
2- It means cleaned up for them, presumably when they came to visit.;-)
 

NewHope

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Thank you Tdol!
 
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