Phrase guide

see a man about a horse

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

Used in place of a real explanation when excusing oneself for a short period of time, particularly to use a toilet.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: euphemistic, idiomatic

Examples

  • I'll be back in two shakes of a lamb's tail. I've just got to visit the ladies' room to see a man about a horse.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A variant of see a man about a dog, from the implied context of seeing someone about a bet on a horse race.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: aller entretenir le duc d’Aumale — to leave to use the toilet