Use the Bathroom
In Appalachian and Southern speech, use the bathroom means to relieve oneself, and the phrase is applied to children, adults, pets, farm animals, and even insects - no actual bathroom required. It’s a polite, all-purpose euphemism for any creature taking care of its business anywhere.
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #Animals #Nature #OldTimers #Southern #BodyandHealth #Euphemisms
synonyms: potty, do your business, have an accident, relieve yourself
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Growin' up, everybody said 'use the bathroom' in this way - but I'd say it's more old timers nowadays. But we use it in our family. Hillbilly Dude Says...
Growin' up, everybody said 'use the bathroom' in this way - but I'd say it's more old timers nowadays. But we use it in our family. Pronunciation
[yooz thuh BATH-room]
/ˈjuːz ðə ˈbæθ.rum/
/ˈjuːz ðə ˈbæθ.rum/
Meaning & Usage
- A polite way to say an animal relieved itself (verb phrase)
Mae:
Watch your step.
Watch your step.
Earl:
Dog used the bathroom right by the porch.
Dog used the bathroom right by the porch.- Applied humorously or gently to kids and even bugs
Mae:
Don’t you use the bathroom in that water.
Don’t you use the bathroom in that water.
Earl:
I won’t! I promise!
I won’t! I promise!- A soft, polite alternative to direct wording
Mae:
What’s that smell?
What’s that smell?
Earl:
Cat used the bathroom in the backseat again.
Cat used the bathroom in the backseat again.variations: go to the bathroom, went to the bathroom, needs to use the bathroom
★ Southern parents and grandparents use this phrase for everything - it keeps the conversation polite, especially around kids, neighbors, and church folks. ★
Origin and Etymology
The phrase "use the bathroom" is a standard English euphemism, but its broad Southern and Appalachian extension - applying it to animals, outdoor spaces, and even insects - reflects regional politeness norms. Rather than naming bodily functions directly, speakers soften the idea by treating "the bathroom" as any place a creature relieves itself, regardless of whether a bathroom exists.
Usage Notes
This usage is widespread in the South and Appalachia and feels completely normal to speakers raised there. Elsewhere in the United States, extending "use the bathroom" to animals or non-bathroom locations may sound childish or overly euphemistic. In the region, however, it is a polite, everyday expression used naturally in both rural and suburban homes.
- Commonly used for pets, livestock, kids, and accidental messes anywhere.
- May sound unusual to non-Southerners when applied outside an actual bathroom.
- Often used to avoid blunt or graphic wording in mixed company.
- Variants include "go to the bathroom" and "went to the bathroom."
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How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 23). Use the Bathroom. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/use-the-bathroom
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Use the Bathroom." HillbillySlang.com, 23 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/use-the-bathroom.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Use the Bathroom." HillbillySlang.com. November 23, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/use-the-bathroom.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...