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You are here: Home / Language / What Does the Expression “I’ve Got To See a Man About a Dog” Mean and Where Did it Come From?

What Does the Expression “I’ve Got To See a Man About a Dog” Mean and Where Did it Come From?

April 12, 2020 by Karen Hill

It’s the room we most often frequent, but good manners dictate that we avoid direct references to the toilet at all costs.

It’s a restroom, a powder room, a washroom, and a loo, which is derived from the French word l’eau for water, as in water closet.

“Seeing a man about a dog” comes from the 1866 play Flying Scud where a character says, “Excuse me Mr. Quail, I can’t stop; I’ve got to see a man about a dog” meaning he needs to leave the room, and fast.

Flying Scud was written by Irish-born playwright Dion Boucicault.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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