ENGLISH
REFERENCE

grow a tail

idiom
Meaning

to be nearly about to defecate, to the point of being unable to completely hold it in


Origin

disputed origin

* All three meanings are related to defecation, in three different ways. * Grow comes from the ideas of expansion (after emergence), either sudden (as in senses 1 and 3) or gradual (as in s. 2). * Tail refers to the fecal matter itself, namely its shape (especially that of a “log”; and esp. in sense 3) and the side of the body whence it is expeled (the back side, where a tail would have been located).

Examples
SIMPLE

I need a bathroom fast because I am starting to grow a tail.

CONTEXTUAL

The traffic jam lasted for hours, and I was really starting to grow a tail by the time we reached the exit.

COMPLEX

After consuming the questionable street food, he realized with mounting panic that he was beginning to grow a tail and desperately scanned the street for a public restroom.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    absence makes the heart grow fonder

    One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.

  2. 02

    chase one's tail

    To busily try to perform many tasks or to repeatedly revise one's plans, especially with inefficient use of one's time and limited results.

  3. 03

    chase tail

    To be on the hunt for a (usually sexual) partner.

  4. 04

    grow a pair

    To be brave; to show some courage, especially in a situation in which one has so far failed to do so.

  5. 05

    grow a set

    Synonym of grow a pair.

  6. 06

    grow apart

    To gradually become estranged.

  7. 07

    grow cold

    To wane; to lose interest or enthusiasm for something or someone; to become disenchanted or to fall out of love with someone.

  8. 08

    grow on

    To become more likeable to someone.

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