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Spend a penny

by GuerrillaIM
25 replies
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In the UK "spend a penny" means to go and relieve oneself in the toilet. Does it mean the same in the USA?
  • Profile picture of the author ThomM
    No it pretty much means spend a penny.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    I agree with Thom. I'll be back in a minute, got to go see a man about a horse.
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    Originally Posted by GuerrillaIM View Post

    In the UK "spend a penny" means to go and relieve oneself in the toilet. Does it mean the same in the USA?
    Maybe that's why politicians always give us their 2 cents?
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    • Profile picture of the author dsimms
      Originally Posted by garyv View Post

      Maybe that's why politicians always give us their 2 cents?
      Do you really think they would use their 2 cents?

      I see a tax increase coming....
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Well, I wanted to comment but I'm afraid I'd just be draining the main vein.
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Well, I wanted to comment but I'm afraid I'd just be draining the main vein.
      And we guys aren't going to take that one sitting down.
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      • Profile picture of the author HeySal
        Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

        And we guys aren't going to take that one sitting down.
        Don't get your panties in a bunch over it -- just get ahold of yourself and shake it off. Jeez.
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        Sal
        When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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  • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
    Cool, I wrote some copy for the USA and I used "spend a penny" unthinkingly in regards to a free trial. I only noticed it after I had the voice over recorded. Sounds funny to my UK ears but as long as it doesn't mean the same thing in USA I am good
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  • Profile picture of the author Pauline60
    Not forgetting ' point Percy at the porcelain'. Or even 'going out the back' or 'going to the sheds'. Final one may be a Northernism.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Don't forget drain the lizard or drain the snake.
      Then for the less endowed wiggle the worm.
      O.K. I made that last one up:rolleyes:
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      Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
      Getting old ain't for sissy's
      As you are I was, as I am you will be
      You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

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  • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
    Here in Middle Earth we "Drain the Dragon".
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  • Profile picture of the author Josh MacDonald
    In USA its called take a sh*t, idk about uk.
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    • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
      Originally Posted by macdonjo View Post

      In USA its called take a sh*t, idk about uk.
      no, "spend a penny" is to have a "whizz" as I think you guys call it. But thanks for joining in.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sidney001
    the same in australia !
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    Web design - Web design sydney
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    When my son was a toddler, I would have him join me in the bathroom to "spend a penny" as you call it, to teach him how to do it. Well he had a bit of a problem w/ his aim. So him being a huge starwars fan, I told him to pretend it was a light saber and the toilet was the dark side. Well one time in particular we were at our local Olive Garden restaurant and I had him in the bathroom w/ me. From in our stall, he blurted out at the top of his lungs "Dad that's a huge yellow light saber you have there!" My hopes that no one heard it were quickly dashed by a loud roar of laughing men.

    Any way, to this day we still say - I have to go fight the dark side w/ my yellow light saber.
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by garyv View Post

      Any way, to this day we still say - I have to go fight the dark side w/ my yellow light saber.
      Where do you put the batteries?
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      Why do garden gnomes smell so bad?
      So that blind people can hate them as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author KimW
    Just to get off topic, a few years back we had a similar thread about the different meanings of things in different countries. It was both fun and very educational!
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  • Profile picture of the author Freeman A
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      OK, in light of the meaning of "spend a penny" in the UK, I was just wondering what you UK'ers think of the age old saying "a penny saved is a penny earned"?

      Just curious as usual!

      Terra
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      • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
        Originally Posted by MissTerraK View Post

        OK, in light of the meaning of "spend a penny" in the UK, I was just wondering what you UK'ers think of the age old saying "a penny saved is a penny earned"?

        Just curious as usual!

        Terra
        Logic suggests holding it in, but after a couple pints those Brits will start spending pretty quick.

        I think the expression may have U.K. origins so probably means the same as here.
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        “Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare.” – Old Japanese proverb -

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        • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
          Originally Posted by Lawrh View Post

          Logic suggests holding it in,but after a couple pints those Brits will start spending pretty quick.

          I think the expression may have U.K. origins so probably means the same as here.
          Thanks Lawrh!

          I was thinking along the same line as you were with an ouch in holding it in!

          But when I read your post, I got to thinking...there's your warning, lol!

          I was thinking that the UK would be the place for a gold digging girl to be. She'd take her Brit to the club, feed him a few pints, then take him out for a major shopping spree!

          Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author Lou Diamond
    Hello,
    there is nothing to spend a penny on anymore.
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    Something new soon.

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  • Profile picture of the author GuerrillaIM
    I think the saying started because public lavatories used to cost a penny. So to have a whizz you would literally have to spend a penny.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by GuerrillaIM View Post

      I think the saying started because public lavatories used to cost a penny. So to have a whizz you would literally have to spend a penny.
      Ah, now that makes sense! Or should I say "cents"

      But you had it pretty cheap, we used to have to pay a dime to use the facilities in some public places.

      Terra
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    Ok - here's a gross one but funny. Sometimes (especially for men) when you're out, the facilities are a little too messy to do your business sitting down. So you have to try and hold it in while taking a whiz. If you're having a really hard time holding it in, some people call it "ground hogging it". I know gross.

    However in light of this new phrase, maybe now we can call it a "penny loafer"? - I know, don't quit my day job.
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    • Profile picture of the author MissTerraK
      Originally Posted by garyv View Post

      Ok - here's a gross one but funny. Sometimes (especially for men) when you're out, the facilities are a little too messy to do your business sitting down. So you have to try and hold it in while taking a whiz. If you're having a really hard time holding it in, some people call it "ground hogging it". I know gross.

      However in light of this new phrase, maybe now we can call it a "penny loafer"? - I know, don't quit my day job.

      Ummm,

      No comment

      Terra
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