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Glite Dictionary
to flush the loo

to flush the loo

6.2
To make the toilet water move to carry away waste
  • phrasal verb
  • /flʌʃ ðə luː/
  • UK
translation icon : tirar de la cadena
  • After using the bathroom, please remember to flush the loo to keep it clean.

Examples

  • I wish I'd flushed the loo first.

    Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999)

  • We had no water to the rooms for three days, and everyone had to take buckets to the swimming pool to bring back and flush the loo or wash with.

    Blog text (29)

  • It's important to flush the loo after every use to maintain hygiene.

  • Before the guests arrive, I need to flush the loo to make sure it is fresh.

Synonyms

to flush
vsto flush the loo
168 2.7

To clean something by running water through it

applies specifically to cleaning a toilet and is British in usage
to flush after
vsto flush the loo
1 2.8

To make the toilet water run to clean it after use

is British usage for cleaning a toilet by causing water to flow through it

Surface Forms

flush the loo infinitive
flushed the loo past
flushed the loo past participle
flushing the loo present participle
flushes the loo third person singular

Morphology

flush + the + loo

The meaning 'to operate the toilet's flush to clear/clean it' is directly and literally derived from combining 'flush' (to clear/clean with water) with 'loo' (toilet). This is a standard verb + determiner + noun compositional pattern describing a physical action, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Flush the loo is a British saying that comes from the simple picture of pushing a handle or button so water rushes and clears the toilet. The word flush shows the water moving and loo means toilet, so it now means 'clean the toilet by operating the flush'.