nature is calling

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victorycountry

#127735 Wed, 17 Aug 05 02:43 AM

Hi,

I am just wondering the meaning of "nature is calling" in "Nature is calling. I want to use the bathroom"?

Do you only use it in such a case?

(Could anyone give me some examples on it please?)

Thanks in advance.

victorycountry

Joined on Sat, Oct 16 2004

Full Member (296)

davkett

#127740 Wed, 17 Aug 05 04:18 AM

I think that's the only way I've actually ever heard it used. But your next sentence would more appropriate as 'I need to use the bathroom'.

davkett

Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005

Pennsylvania, USA

Senior Member (2,788)

"The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay

goldmund

#127852 Wed, 17 Aug 05 01:45 PM

Dear Victory County,

You may sometimes hear «the call of nature». It is perhaps more common.

Kind regards, Smile [:)]

Goldmund

goldmund

Joined on Fri, Jun 10 2005

Regular Member (581)

«Tout homme peut dire véritablement; mais dire ordonnément, prudemment et suffisamment, peu d'hommes le peuvent.» - Michel de Montaigne

Regards

jeff_999

#127861 Wed, 17 Aug 05 02:10 PM

Hehe, that's a funny way to say, when someone need to go to the bathroom. I ever heard " *** is answering the call of nature in a urinal." But I was wondering the origin of the phrase. Could you explain for us?

jeff_999

Joined on Wed, Oct 20 2004

Xiamen

Regular Member (810)

Clive

#127940 Wed, 17 Aug 05 06:13 PM

Hi,

I think the idea is just that our bodily needs are a natural function. 'Call' has the sense that these functions can not be ignored.

It's a mildly humorous cliche. In a less informal situation, you'd probably say something like 'Please excuse me for a moment' or 'I have to go to the bathroom'. As the formality increases, the direct references decrease.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (21,184)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Philip

#127948 Wed, 17 Aug 05 06:56 PM

Clive wrote:

Hi,

I think the idea is just that our bodily needs are a natural function. 'Call' has the sense that these functions can not be ignored.

It's a mildly humorous cliche. In a less informal situation, you'd probably say something like 'Please excuse me for a moment' or 'I have to go to the bathroom'. As the formality increases, the direct references decrease.

Best wishes, Clive

Men often "go to see a man about a dog"; ladies, especially with more than one, often "go powder" their noses.

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (6,181)

At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

MrPedantic

#128013 Wed, 17 Aug 05 11:46 PM

I suppose 'call of nature' in this context must once have been a parody of some more Thoreauvian sentiment (cf. 'the call of the wild').

MrP

MrPedantic

Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004

Veteran Member (12,053)

...opella forensis / adducit febris...

Clive

#128014 Wed, 17 Aug 05 11:49 PM

Hi,

I guess there's a lot of slang and informal ways to say this. I'm very familiar with these last two, especially the man/dog thing, but they sound rather old-fashioned to me. The man/dog thing is very British, I think.

Slang always sounds wrong if you don't use it right! Generally, my advice to learners of English would be to avoid slang unless you're absolutely it's right and appropriate for the situation.

Best wishes again, Clive

Clive

Philip

#128071 Thu, 18 Aug 05 05:54 AM

Clive wrote:

The man/dog thing is very British, I think.

I've heard it all my life: Colorado as a youth, Washington state as an adult: total of 61 years.

Philip

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