move one's bowels

English

Verb

move one's bowels

  1. (euphemistic) To defecate.
    • 1958, Marion E. Faegre et al., Child Care and Training, 8th ed. Minnesota Press Archival Editions, →ISBN, p. 99 (Google preview):
      Too great emphasis on privacy in connection with the eliminative functions may, in some instances, result in a child's inability to urinate or move his bowels in an unfamiliar setting.
    • 1980 Oct. 5, Tony Kornheiser, "Ali Not Oblivious To the Obvious," Washington Post (retrieved 26 July 2015):
      Three days before the fight he was eating fruit. . . . "Keeps my system regular," he said. ". . . Keeps you from getting old, moving your bowels regular."
    • 2013 Nov. 27, Joyce Wadler, "Bad Thanksgiving," New York Times (retrieved 26 July 2015):
      In the middle of the night the woman moved her bowels. The sharp stink of it pervaded the room.

Usage notes

  • A nonvulgar, relatively inoffensive term for performing this bodily function, acceptable for general use.

Synonyms

  • See Thesaurus:defecate
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.