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Meaning & use

going to the toilet

phrase·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌɡəʊɪŋ tə ðə ˈtɔɪlət/
US/ˌɡoʊɪŋ tə ðə ˈtɔɪlət/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phrase

    Going to a bathroom to pass urine or solid waste from the body.

    Grammar: Used as a continuous verb phrase for an action happening now or soon; the noun 'toilet' is countable here.

    Patterns

    • be going to the toilet
    • need to go to the toilet
    • go to the toilet before something

    Excuse me, I'm going to the toilet — I'll be right back.

    The little boy said he was going to the toilet and left the table.

    Please go to the toilet before we get in the car.

  2. phrasefixed phraseBritish

    Using a toilet to urinate or empty the bowels, said politely in public.

    Grammar: In British English 'toilet' is the ordinary polite word; American speakers usually say 'bathroom' or 'restroom'.

    Patterns

    • go to the toilet
    • be going to the toilet

    In Britain, people often ask where they can go to the toilet.

    He was going to the toilet several times a night, so he saw a doctor.

Common combinations

need to go to the toilet
The children all needed to go to the toilet at the same time.
go to the toilet before bed
Make sure you go to the toilet before bed.
excuse yourself to go to the toilet
She excused herself to go to the toilet during dinner.
going to the toilet a lot
Going to the toilet a lot can be a sign of a bladder problem.
a trip to the toilet
He made a quick trip to the toilet before the film started.

Synonyms and how they differ

going to the bathroom
This is the usual American phrase and sounds more polite in US settings.
going to the loo
'Loo' is informal British English and is fine with friends but not in formal writing.
going to the restroom
'Restroom' is a polite American term used mainly in public places and businesses.

Word family

toilet noun
the bowl and seat used for passing waste, or the room containing it

Commonly confused: going to the toilet or going to the toilet?

going to the toilet vs going to the toilet

In British English this means using the bathroom. In American English 'toilet' usually means just the bowl itself, so 'going to the toilet' can sound odd there.

Practice

Which sentence is the most natural polite request in British English?

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