see a man about a horse

[wendy allen]

what does it mean when someone says they'd like to 'see a man about a horse'?

[Clanad]

In the US, it's a polite way of saying he has to go to the bathroom...

[andy hughes]

The origin of the phrase probably comes from either horse selling, or horse betting, and was usually seen as a hush-hush way of doing some possibly illegal dealing. Over time, it has passed into common parlance a a euphimism for visitng the toilet - one of many similar expressions - my dad always used to say he was going to turn his bike round (!)

[cheyenne]

when i was a kid,my dad would get ready to go out friday night.i would ask him where you going dad! ive got to see a man about a dog he replied.but of course he was going to the pub!!i wonder if its the same sought of thing??

[Tweed]

It's what someone says when the're being secretive

[wein]

according to another website (not the most legitimate source):

To see a man about a dog (or horse) - �Although in the late nineteenth century, to �see a man about a dog� meant to visit a woman for sexual purposes"

Sounds like your mom and dad need to have a talk.

[Rich Cranium]

The expression comes from the long forgotten 1866 play Flying Scud by a prolific Irish-born playwright of the period named Dion Boucicault. One of the characters uses the words as an excuse to get away from a tricky situation. This character, an eccentric and superannuated old jockey, says: "Excuse me Mr. Quail, I can't stop; I've got to see a man about a dog". This is the only thing that seems to have survived from the play.