# have an accident

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/have-an-accident
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To urinate or defecate somewhere other than a toilet.

## Examples

- 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.

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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.