Editing Urination (section)

===Talking about urination===
<!-- linked from redirect [[wee-wee]] -->
In many societies and in many social classes, even mentioning the need to urinate is seen as a social transgression, despite it being a universal need. Many adults avoid stating that they need to urinate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/postst48621_excuse-yourself-to-go-to-the-toilet-politely.aspx|title=excuse yourself to go to the toilet politely - English Vocabulary - English - The Free Dictionary Language Forums|website=forum.thefreedictionary.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/148362/is-there-a-formal-way-to-say-we-want-to-go-to-the-toilet|title=Is there a formal way to say we want to go to the toilet?|website=english.stackexchange.com}}</ref>

Many expressions exist, some [[euphemism|euphemistic]] and some vulgar. For example, centuries ago the standard English word (both noun and verb, for the product and the activity) was "[[wiktionary:piss|piss]]", but subsequently "pee", formerly associated with children, has become more common in general public speech. Since elimination of bodily wastes is, of necessity, a subject talked about with toddlers during [[toilet training]], other expressions considered suitable for use by and with children exist, and some continue to be used by adults, e.g. "weeing", "doing/having a wee-wee", "to tinkle", "[[wiktionary:go potty|go potty]]", "go pee pee".{{citation needed|date=July 2012}}

Other expressions include "squirting" and "taking a leak", and, predominantly by younger persons for outdoor female urination, "popping a squat", referring to the position many women adopt in such circumstances. National [[varieties of English]] show creativity. [[American English]] uses "to whiz".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiz|title=Definition of WHIZ|website=www.merriam-webster.com|date=17 March 2024 }}</ref> [[Australian English]] has coined "I am off to take a [[Music of China|Chinese singing]] lesson", derived from the tinkling sound of urination against the China porcelain of a toilet bowl.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.definition-of.com/have+Chinese+singing+lesson |title=have Chinese singing lesson |publisher=Definition-of.com |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref> [[British English]] uses "going to see my aunt", "going to [[see a man about a dog]]", "to piddle", "to splash (one's) boots", as well as "to have a slash", which originates from the [[Scottish English|Scottish term]] for a large splash of liquid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sex-lexis.com/Sex-Dictionary/have%20a%20slash |title=have a slash – Dictionary of sexual terms |publisher=Sex-lexis.com |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref> One of the most common, albeit old-fashioned, euphemisms in British English is "to spend a penny", a reference to coin-operated [[pay toilet]]s, which used ([[Decimal Day|pre-decimalisation]]) to charge that sum.<ref>{{cite web|last=Martin |first=Gary |url=http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/spend-a-penny.html |title=Spend a penny |publisher=Phrases.org.uk |access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref>

====Use in language====
{{Further|Wiktionary:Appendix:English toilet slang#Urination}}
{{unreferenced section|date=March 2013}}
References to urination are commonly used in [[slang]]. Usage in English includes:
*[[wikt:piss off|''Piss'' (someone) off]] (to anger someone; alternatively, to leave somewhere in a hurry)
*''Piss off!'' (to express contempt; see above)
*''Pissing'' down (to refer to heavy rain)
*[[Pissing contest]] (an unproductive ego-driven battle)
*''[[wikt:pisshead|Pisshead]]'' (vulgar way to refer to someone who drinks too much [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]])
*''[[Pissant#Slang|Piss ant]]'' (a worthless person; in non-slang usage the term refers to several species of ant whose colonies have a urine-like odor)
*''Pissing'' up a flagpole (to partake in a futile activity)
*''Pissing'' into the wind (to act in ways that cause self-harm)
*''[[wikt:piss away|Piss away]]'' (to squander or use wastefully)
*[[Taking the piss]] (to take liberties, be unreasonable, or to mock another person)
*''Full of piss and vinegar'' (energetic or ambitious late adolescent or young adult male)
*''Piss up'' (British expression for drinking to get drunk)
* ''Pissed'' (drunk in British English or angry in American English)