see a man about a dog
Used in place of a real explanation when excusing oneself for a short period of time, particularly (euphemistic) to use the toilet or (historical) drink alcohol.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I need to leave for a moment to see a man about a dog.”
“I will be right back; I must see a man about a dog.”
“Wait here while I go see a man about a dog.”
“He stood up during the meeting, mumbled that he had to see a man about a dog, and walked out.”
“If you excuse me for a moment, I have to see a man about a dog before our dinner arrives.”
“She slipped away from the party, telling her friends she had to see a man about a dog in the lobby.”
“My brother winked at me and headed toward the back of the pub, saying he needed to see a man about a dog.”
“Rather than explaining his sudden need for privacy, he simply excused himself, claiming he had to see a man about a dog.”
The origin is unknown, though during the Prohibition era the expression was used as a coded reference to the acquisition of alcohol. In this context, the phrase was likely influenced by the earlier idiom hair of the dog.
- 01
be a man
To put up with something or take responsibility for it; to deal with something, such as pain or misfortune, without complaining.
- 02
be one's own man
To behave independently without the influence of others.
- 03
be the bigger man
To walk away from a conflict to prevent it from escalating.
- 04
boldly go where no man has gone before
To break new ground.
- 05
broken man
A man who has suffered significant and enduring emotional pain as a result of a highly unpleasant or traumatic event.
- 06
buy a dog and bark oneself
To do something that one has hired someone else to do.
- 07
call off the dogs
To ease up on after inflicting great punishment.
- 08
cat and dog life
An unhappy married life marked by arguments and disagreements.
Last updated August 10, 2026