See a man about a horse (US)
See a man about a dog (UK)
humorous

- said euphemistically when leaving to go to the toilet or keep an undisclosed appointment

Oxford Languages

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The expression "see a man about a dog" was first used in the play "The Flying Scud", written by Dion Boucicault in 1866: "Excuse me Mr. Quail, I can't stop; I've got to see a man about a dog." The horse variant developed shortly afterward as an alternative version of the same concept.

A revival of the "horse" expression occurred in 1939 on an NBC Radio program, America's Lost Play. At the time, it was said the expression was the play's claim to fame. This helped cement the phrase in American popular culture.

The "dog" version was the original, but "horse" became equally popular, likely because horse racing and betting were more prominent in popular culture than dog racing.

Today, both the horse and dog variants are used as a humorous way to excuse oneself for bathroom visits or other private matters, though it still retains its broader meaning of politely declining to specify one's destination or business.

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HORSE LOGIC

There's something rather mysterious about “Seeing a man about a horse” that polite alternatives like "I need to use the restroom" or "I’m off to wash my hands" can't match. It leaves people wondering if you're up to something interesting, even when you're just answering nature's call.

The phrase works precisely because it makes no sense—and that's perfect. In our efficiency-obsessed world, here's an expression that chooses confusion over clarity. It's wonderfully and amusingly absurd,… perhaps that's exactly what our overly serious world needs more of these days.

Paul & Helga Smith 

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SYNONYMS

answer nature’s call (the call of nature), attend to business, avail oneself of the facilities, be indisposed, bladder relief, call of nature, check the plumbing, christen the porcelain, convenience break, do one’s business (the necessary), drain the dragon, excuse oneself, freshen up, go for a leak (a pee, a piddle, a tinkle), go powder one’s nose (relieve oneself), go to the bathroom (the bog, the can, the john, the lav, the lavatory, the little boys’/girl’s room, the loo, the outhouse, the powder room, the restroom, the washroom), have a comfort break, lay a cable, leave/make a deposit, make a pit stop (a sanitary stop, a visit), pay a visit (the water bill), pee, perform bodily functions, point percy at the porcelain, powder one’s nose, SEE A MAN ABOUT A DOG / A HORSE, shake the dew off the lily, spend a penny, take a bio break (care of business, the scenic route), tinkle, visit the facilities (the gents, the ladies, the smallest room in the house), water the daisies (the horses, the plants), wee, wee-wee

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SMUGGLE
 OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“When announcing one’s intention to visit the toilet, the British prefer to see men about dogs,… the Americans about horses!”

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P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D

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