“I immediately thought of my grandpa who said someone had to “make water” when they needed to go to the bathroom. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone else say that. Grandpa was a rounder in his youth but a wonderful old man–such a great influence on my family.”
—Wanda Devers 2016
I’ve heard both Pap and Granny say the phrase make water for going to the bathroom. A few of the times I heard Pap use the phrase was when he was a patient in the VA hospital and was telling the nurse he needed to go to the bathroom. I suppose the nurses were used to hearing the phrase even if it wasn’t one they used, because I never heard any of them question Pap about it.
I’ve also heard Granny’s doctor use the term when he was asking if everything was okay with her kidneys.
Is it a phrase you’re familiar with?
Last night’s video: Alex Stewart Portrait of a Pioneer 8.
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My mother used the term “make water”.
Yes, I recall hearing my Grandpa Carpenter use that expression, when my mother was helping take care of him after he had come home from the hospital.
My grandparents (born 1920’s) used this in Middle Tennessee.
Tipper, I’m with a few other commenters. I first and only heard that phrase in the movie Driving Miss Daisy.
Oh my goodness, my Dad used to say this!
Yes, I’ve heard the term used. Another that I heard the first time in Texas is, “I need to drain my radiator.”
Only time I ever heard that term was in Driving Miss Daisy when Hoke finally told her why
he needed to stop…to Make Water! Loved that movie!
My Grandma, born in 1900, would say that. She was the only person that I ever heard use the phrase. She died in 1999.
I have heard the term used in some Asian countries when the natives speaking English communicate that they need to use the restroom.
Oh, yes! “Make water” means “take a leak,” “take a whiz,” and other phrases I’d rather not “say” here! Y’all drink plenty of water, in this summer heat, so you will “make water” enough, to avoid that “thar” heat stroke!
Yes, I have heard the term used in the past. My ex-wife’s grandparents used that phrase all the time. They both were born in 1897 and died circa 1985. This was in southwestern New York State which is considered part of the Appalachian plateau.
Ever heard “Got to go check the weather”? That refers to “making water” in the great outdoors. It’s really refreshing! Maybe not so much for the ladies.
Yes, we hear folks say that here all the time. When I was young I didn’t know what they were talking about. I asked Mama and she told me. Another common phrase older men here say for going to the bathroom is “I gotta go see a man about a dog”. We’ve also heard this all our lives. Mostly those that are older say it. I’ve only heard older men say those phrases, never a woman. However, when I asked my husband how common it was to him and did he know what they meant, our 10 year old grandson piped up and told us what both phrases meant. It is so common even the children know what these two phrases means. Grandson went on to say he heard a man say he had to go make water while they were shopping in a sports store. Hubby said both were common phrases he’s heard all his life, but never said them himself.
My grandfather always said “make water” & my Dad did also. When I visited my grandparents in the country, my grandfather would start walking down the path to the toilet/outhouse & I would ask him where he was going. He would say, “I’m going to see a man about a dog.” And, he kept corncobs between the rafters of the back porch & would take those with him.
Yes. Binghamton N.Y. area, 1970’s, I must have been six or seven years old. My elementary school teacher used this phrase often, but no one else in my life at the time would say that. She also referred to the room she woud send us to as the “lavatory,” so I’m not sure what her background/heritage would have been. I thought she was saying laboratory, and wondered why there were no beakers and science things in the room. It looked like a regular old bathroom to me! Hugs
Yes, I still use that one or I have to drain.
Drain your lizard?
I haven’t heard this in a very long time, but my dad used to say it and older family members back in the day. It does sound nicer than the alternative although my brother would say, he had to go “wet a wheel” and my mama would give him a look. LOL, typical boy. Also, praise the Lord, we got rain last night!
Heard it a lot growing up, still some mostly from older people like me.
Yes, I’ve heard make water but not much and not in a long time. It was a more polite word for pee.
I heard it a few times in the distant past but not recently, nor have I used it.
yes, it was a perfectly common expression that i hadn’t realized wasn’t anymore.
I’ve heard the term making water, in my younger years, but don’t think I used it myself. I always just said I had to go potty. When I started school the teacher explained to me it was called a bathroom. I was 5 or 6 yrs old, so I quickly told her I didn’t need a bath, I had to pee. She told me it didn’t matter if I had to do 1 or 2, I should just say I need to go to the bathroom. That also lead to another discussion with what 1 and 2 was. I think she regretted that conversation since all the other kids joined in saying what they called 1 and 2….lol…I learned a lot of terms that day, none which related to what the room was called, only what had to be done there. So like any little kid I went home and told my mom what all I learned that day. She quickly told me what you have to do in the potty or as the teacher called the bathroom was my business and I should not be discussing such things with others….lol… Mom learned as us kids got older there were worse topics of discussion we learned in school. She may have come from the country, but she was all about being proper.
Then when I was a young adult in college a teacher laughed at me when I said I needed to go to the bathroom. He informed me a bathroom was a room where one bathed, if I needed to go to use the toilet then I should say toilet or loo. I’ve heard others call it an outhouse, wash room, lavatory, powder room, the John, restroom, latrine and the funniest term I’ve heard it called so far is The Throne.
How about “The Reading Room?”
Yes, when I was younger, many older folks, especially women used that term.
The only time I ever heard the term make water, was in the movie Driving Miss Daisy, when her chauffeur was politely trying to tell her why he was stopping. There is a lot to be said for politeness and good manners.
I was going to say the same thing. That’s the only time in my life I’ve ever heard it . . . was in Driving Miss Daisy.
I have heard it but not in my family and only a couple of times
It has been a long time but oh yes, I’ve heard that. There are all kinds if euphemisms for the calls of nature. Some that could to mind are; see a man about a dog, whizz, do something you can’t do for me, tinkle, water the grass (or the bushes) and on and on. Wonder why ‘lay some dust’ was not one?
The one I heard most often among the guys when I was growing up was ‘see a man about a dog’. That was most commonly said when outside.
Ron, I grew up with a similar one, but it was see a man or woman about a horse.
I grew up hearing that phrase used by both my parents, grandma, and all my aunts. They would say make water or go to the toilet. The toilet is an outdoor structure that was never called a bathroom. It hasn’t been more than a week or so since that saying was rolling around in my head. Those old sayings tend to pop up when I’m outside and working alone.
I’ve heard that expression before. I’d forgotten all about it though.
I have heard this before and I am trying to remember where. Lol
Speaking of “making water” we are finally getting a really good rain. The first big one in weeks for us at our house. We have watched it rain all around us on the mountains but it just wouldn’t come to us until this morning. Thanking the good Lord for it too!
My grandmother always used that term. I hadn’t thought of it in years.
My dad, who will be 96 this month, uses that phrase. Several years ago so after taking Sudafed to relieve some cold symptoms, he had an adverse reaction, and it “cut his water completely off!” Needless to say that took several doctor visits to rectify and he sure will ask about any new medication, “this won’t cut my water off will it?”
When I used to work at the local pizza place we used to call people only coming in to use the restroom ‘head hunters’ ; )
I first heard the phrase in the movie “Driving Miss Daisy” when the two main characters argue over pulling over while driving, so Hoke, played by Morgan Freeman, can make water. I’d never heard it before, but the meaning was clear.
Making water is a pretty familiar term usually reserved for those with modesty who find slang like “pee” frankly crude. It’s also used mostly by elderly or Christian folks with modest values. I must say yesterday I saw a video of water pouring out of the middle of a tree! It was one of the most mind blowing things I ever saw. If you think there’s no God, let me warn you, it’s going to be a real eye peeler open so get ready for things to happen that ain’t nobody ever seen in our lifetimes!!!
Yes, I’ve heard it used. Can’t remember where, though.
Yes mam Miss Tipper, I’ve heard that term many times by my elders around here in sc, sometimes my Grandaddy (Lawrence Gainey) that I told you reminded me of Pap would use that term Got To Go Make Water or sometimes he would say Got To Go Draw Water!! Thanks for helping bring these precious memories to my mind this morning. ❤️
A guy I worked with would say that was going to drop the boys off at the pool. He is the only one I’ve heard say that.
One of my great uncles here in Knoxville used that phrase when talking about my grandfather, who died suddenly of a stroke at the age of 37 back in 1936. He said he “made water” before he died.
“Rounder” is another word not often heard anymore. I’ve heard it used in songs from the 1920s and 1930s, but seldom today. I heard a relative use it to describe another relative.
Goodness, the more I hear of Alex Stewart the more I am impressed by his talents. I would love to see one of those chairs he made, as I have tried to picture the way the bark was used for the seat. I am picturing it to look something like when a seat was caned…as in strips. I will have to research it. Such a legacy he left…wonder where he migrated from?…Thanks again.
I’ve heard it but rarely and from my childhood. In books I’ve read about Native American tribes long ago ” make water” meant to urinate and ” make meat” meant to hunt. I’ve always thought the term had it’s origins in the language structure of first nations. Love the post!
My wife’s grandfather used a little different term, which I always thought he was referring to going to the bathroom outside. He referred to it as, “Making a branch”. JC’s comment reminded me of the military term, latrine.
I hadn’t thought of that phrase in a long time! People were more polite in their way of speaking back then, weren’t they?
The first time I heard that expression was in the movie “Driving Miss Daisy.” My grandmother (Ma) always used the phrase “I need to go outdoors.” Of course that’s where she went as a child and young adult…outdoors to the outhouse. She continued to use that phrase until her passing at 98 years of age.
Oh my, yes, that term was used in my family. They also referred to the room as a lavvy. Those who had been in the military called it a ‘head’.