# answer the call of nature

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/answer-the-call-of-nature
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To satisfy a bodily urge to urinate or defecate.

## Examples

- Excuse me, I need to answer the call of nature.
- During the long hike, he had to step behind a tree to answer the call of nature.
- The speaker paused mid-sentence, clearly needing to answer the call of nature, and hurried toward the nearest restroom.

## Origin

From *answer the call* and *call of nature*, used as a euphemism for the physiological necessity of urination or defecation. While the individual components are older, the full idiom appears in English by the mid-19th century as a polite substitution for describing the basic functions of the body.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.