when nature calls
- idiom
- Informal
:
cuando la naturaleza llama
- Traveling with kids can be tricky because you never know when nature calls.
Examples
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Even during a long meeting, she had to slip out when nature calls.
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He always says, 'I'll be right back, when nature calls!'
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Excuse me for a moment, when nature calls, you have to listen.
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Excuse me, I need to go; it's time when nature calls.
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Excuse me, but I need to step out when nature calls.
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During a long road trip, we have to make frequent stops when nature calls.
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He joked about rushing to the bathroom by saying, 'You know it’s serious when nature calls!'
Synonyms
278
1.0
To use the toilet in a polite or indirect way
217
8.9
To pee or poo, often said about animals and young children
1
1.9
To go to a room with a toilet to pee or poo
A polite, funny way to say you need to go to the toilet
To go quickly to the toilet because you have to pee or poo
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is a polite euphemism where 'nature' metaphorically stands for bodily urges and 'calls' signals an inner need; this metaphorical leap is understandable but not strictly compositional from the literal meanings. Some learners may infer the restroom sense from context or cross-linguistic parallels, but the specific bathroom meaning is not fully predictable without exposure, so it is partially transparent.
Etymology
When nature calls treats the body's need to go to the toilet as if nature itself 'calls' you for attention. So, it is a polite, slightly funny way to say 'to go to the toilet'.