toilet book
1
5.5
- noun
- /ˈtɔɪlɪt bʊk/
- UK
:
libro de baño
- She always kept a toilet book on the bathroom shelf for guests.
Examples
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That crossword puzzle collection is really more of a toilet book than serious literature.
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I left a toilet book in the bathroom.
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Many people read a toilet book to pass the time during short bathroom breaks.
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Do you have a good toilet book to recommend?
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He always keeps a toilet book in the bathroom for some light reading while waiting.
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My favorite toilet book has funny anecdotes that make me laugh during quick breaks.
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When visiting friends, I often browse their toilet books to find something entertaining.
How Casual
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a book intended for light, casual reading kept in a bathroom' is directly derivable from combining 'toilet' (bathroom) and 'book' (a set of pages), following the common English noun+noun compounding pattern that marks location or purpose. Although the cultural practice of keeping such books may vary, a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer this intended meaning, so it is transparent.
Etymology
Toilet book comes from the simple idea of keeping a book by the toilet for short visits. One popular story says people kept short, easy reading there, so toilet book now means 'light, casual reading'.