the trots

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralinformal

   an illness in which waste matter leaves the body too often and in liquid form

   Grammar: Always used with 'the' and a plural verb: 'The trots are going around.' It has no singular form.

   Patterns

   • get the trots
   • have the trots
   • come down with the trots

   After eating that street food, I got the trots and had to stay near a bathroom all night.

   Half the team had the trots during the trip, so we canceled the hike.

   He says he can't come to work because he's got the trots.

2. 2nounpluralinformalrare

   a condition in which a person or animal runs very fast, especially in a race

   Grammar: Used with 'the' and a plural verb; usually in the phrase 'have the trots' meaning to be running quickly.

   Patterns

   • have the trots
   • give someone the trots

   The young horse had the trots and left the others far behind.

   She had the trots today and finished the race in record time.

Common combinations

get the trots

Don't drink the tap water here or you'll get the trots.

have the trots

He had the trots for two days after the camping trip.

a case of the trots

The doctor said it was just a mild case of the trots.

come down with the trots

Several passengers came down with the trots on the cruise.

the trots are going around

The trots are going around the office this week.

Synonyms and how they differ

diarrhea

This is the standard medical term and is appropriate in formal or polite contexts, while 'the trots' is informal and slightly crude.

the runs

This is another informal term with the same meaning and similar register, but 'the runs' is more common in American English.

looseness of the bowels

This is a very formal and old-fashioned way to say the same thing; it would sound odd in everyday conversation.

Opposites

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “the trots”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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