have an accident
To urinate or defecate somewhere other than a toilet.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The puppy had an accident on the kitchen floor.”
“The elderly dog is getting weaker and sometimes has an accident if we do not take him outside quickly.”
“Despite the rigorous training schedule, the young child occasionally had an accident during the night, causing him great embarrassment.”
- 01
accident of birth
A fact, situation, or personal characteristic, which may be desirable or undesirable, resulting from the circumstances into which a person was born, and which is therefore entirely beyond their control.
- 02
accident waiting to happen
A thing or situation which is almost certain to eventually lead to an accident.
Last updated August 10, 2026