How do you use "Spend a penny" in a sentence?

I just need to spend a penny. Where can I spend a penny? Excuse me, spending a penny.

Spend a penny

Q: What does "Spend a penny" mean?

British euphemism for urinating specifically. 'Spend a penny' originally referred specifically to urinating in public toilets that charged a penny. The phrase survived long after the charge ended as a polite way to say you need to urinate.

Slang Term British ★★☆☆☆ Uncommon Neutral

Meaning: British euphemism for urinating specifically.

英国委婉语，特指小便。

Eufemismo británico para orinar específicamente.

特に排尿を指すイギリスの婉曲表現。

특히 소변을 뜻하는 영국식 완곡 표현.

'Spend a penny' originally referred specifically to urinating in public toilets that charged a penny. The phrase survived long after the charge ended as a polite way to say you need to urinate.

'Spend a penny'最初特指在收费一便士的公共厕所小便。这个短语在收费结束后很久仍然存在，作为表示需要小便的礼貌说法。

'Spend a penny' se refería originalmente a orinar en aseos públicos que cobraban un penique. La expresión sobrevivió mucho después de que desapareciera el cobro como forma educada de decir que necesitas orinar.

「Spend a penny」は元々、1ペニーの使用料がかかる公衆トイレで排尿することを特に指していた。料金制が終わった後もずっと残り、排尿したいと言う丁寧な表現として使われている。

'Spend a penny'는 원래 1페니를 내야 했던 공중 화장실에서 소변을 보는 것을 가리키는 표현이었습니다. 요금제가 사라진 뒤에도 소변을 봐야 한다고 정중하게 말할 때 쓰는 표현으로 남아 있습니다.

Examples

I just need to spend a penny.
我只需要去一下洗手间
Solo necesito ir al aseo
ちょっとお手洗いに行きたいだけ
잠깐 화장실 좀 다녀올게요.
Where can I spend a penny?
哪里可以上洗手间？
¿Dónde puedo ir al aseo?
お手洗いはどこでしょう？
화장실이 어디 있을까요?
Excuse me, spending a penny.
不好意思，去一下洗手间
Disculpe, voy al aseo
失礼、ちょっとお手洗いに
실례합니다, 잠깐 화장실 좀.

Pronunciation

/spɛnd ə ˈpɛni/

Usage Guide

Context: humorous, old-fashioned

Tone: old-fashioned, humorous

✓ Do Say

Old-fashioned euphemism
老式委婉语
eufemismo anticuado
古風な婉曲表現
구식 완곡 표현

✗ Don't Say

Sounds very dated
听起来非常过时
Suena muy anticuado
とても古臭く聞こえる
매우 구식으로 들림

Common Mistakes

Very dated—used knowingly now

Origin & History

From the penny charge for using public toilets. Specifically about urination as that's what the penny toilets were mainly used for. Now old-fashioned/humorous.

Etymology: Penny locks on public toilets

First recorded: Victorian era

Cultural Context

Era: Victorian

Generation: Older generations

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: British history

Regional notes: British. Old-fashioned.

Variations

Spend a penny

Spend a penny

Examples

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

✓ Do Say

✗ Don't Say

Common Mistakes

Origin & History

Cultural Context

Variations

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